Police torches

Police torch: what should you look for?

A torch for police work or security is used differently from a lamp that sits in the shed. It goes with you on every shift, is operated one-handed in the dark and needs to do exactly what you expect straight away.

Brightness and range

For work at short distances, 500 to 1000 lumen is more than enough, and too much light on a white wall can even work against you. If you need to search a site or a field, range matters more than lumen: look for a lamp with a focused beam. You can read what those figures mean exactly in how to recognise a good torch.

Strobe and switch

A strobe mode briefly dazzles and disorientates, and that is exactly why tactical torches come with one as standard. Also pay attention to the switch: you operate a tailcap at the back with your thumb while holding the lamp next to your shoulder, even while wearing gloves.

Toughness and waterproofing

Look at the IP rating and the drop height stated by the manufacturer. IP68 means dustproof and waterproof, even if the lamp is under water for a while. An aluminium housing with a hardened lens will take care of the rest.

Carry options

A holster on your belt or a clip on your vest pocket saves you searching. If you work in the fire service or ambulance service, also take a look at torches for emergency services, and for heavier-duty models at military torches. You can find all lamps by application at torches by use.

Which torches do the police use?

There is no official answer to that: equipment differs by force and by country, and we are not a supplier to the police. What is fixed, however, are the requirements this work places on a lamp, and that is what you can use to make your own selection.

In practical terms, it comes down to four things: a beam that reaches beyond thirty metres, a strobe mode, a switch you can find without looking, and a housing that survives a fall. If you are searching by brand, Fenix builds a separate tactical series with a dual switch and a strobe mode, and that is the type of lamp you should be looking at in this segment.

If you want to look more broadly than police work alone, you can find the full selection at torches for public safety. And if you simply want to see the full range, view all our torches.