Report Overview
The U.S. law enforcement PPE market size was estimated at USD 839.4 million in 2021 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.0% from 2022 to 2030. The rising awareness about officer safety in tactical and riot control situations is anticipated positively impact the growth. The demand for law enforcement PPE such as protective clothing, respirator masks, face shields, surgical masks, and goggles surged during the COVID-19 outbreak. The demand for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), particularly respiratory, hand, and eye protection equipment experienced a significant increase.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, hate crimes against Asian and African communities witnessed an increase in 2020 which raised the requirement for active police personnel and safety products. The rising number of hate crimes against communities of color is expected to propel the demand for personal protective equipment in the law enforcement industry over the forecast period.
Government packages and budgets for police departments are increasing in the U.S., facilitating the expenditure on more personal protective equipment. According to the released news, in March 2022, the U.S. government spending plan included USD 101 million more over the last year for civil right enforcement. This is also expected to include the funding for safety gear.
Additionally, the demand for law enforcement PPE such as protective clothing, respirator masks, face shields, surgical masks, and goggles has surged because of the COVID-19 outbreak. A surging number of biological infectious diseases and the continuation of crucial safety requirements in the U.S. is anticipated to fuel the demand for PPE over the forecast period.
New technical innovations such as smart sensors, AR & VR, body-worn cameras, and others are being developed in the law enforcement industry. Smart sensors can be used to collect a wide range of data to assist officers in performing their duties. In addition, the advent of nanotechnology is expected to facilitate the construction of lighter and more resilient body armor vests.
Product Insights
The protective clothing segment held the leading revenue share of 39.6% in 2021. High-visibility safety apparel, body vests, coveralls, etc. are some of the types of protective clothing which absorb or deflect physical attacks. Therefore, riot police and first respondents are required to use protective clothing regularly. The rising expenditure on such products is driving the growth of the market.
According to the U.S. Census and State & Local Government Finance, the U.S. government spent USD 205 billion on law enforcement, amounting to USD 123 billion spent on policing and USD 82 billion spent on corrections in 2019. In addition, the U.S. government announced in November 2021, its plans to hire more law enforcement personnel which is likely to drive the market growth.
The eye & face protection segment is expected to register robust growth at a CAGR of 6.5% over the forecast period. Eye & face protection equipment includes safety glasses, night vision eyewear, face shields, and bulletproof goggles. Political and social tension creating a spike in armed protests is likely to increase the demand for eye and face protection worn by riot control units.
Respiratory protection includes gear that protects an individual against harmful and hazardous compounds. They are worn by law enforcement in high-alert tactical missions and by specialized emergency response teams or SERT. Air-purifying respirators and respirator masks are the commonly used type of respiration protection.
Key Companies & Market Share Insights
The key players are actively focusing on several strategies, including product innovation, research & development, geographical expansion, and a joint venture to strive in the competition and expand market penetration. For instance, in January 2022, Safariland Armor, a brand of The Safariland Group, announced a national distribution agreement with Busch PROtective. This collaboration between Safariland and Busch PROtective is anticipated to offer advanced ballistic protection to a large number of law enforcement personnel in the U.S. Some prominent players in the U.S. law enforcement PPE market include:
Honeywell International Inc.
3M
MSA
Safariland LLC
DuPont
ARMORSOURCE, LLC
Lakeland Inc.
Avon Protection
Drägerwerk AG & Co. KGaA
Paulson Manufacturing