Perhaps she should wear a face mask and latex gloves next time she visits a hospital, school or care home in her constituency?

Gordon Alexander, Frome, UK

Shouldn't criminal charges be brought against Harriet Harman for impersonating a police officer?

JC, London,

Isn't impersonating a police officer a crime? Arrest her and take her DNA in line with the law. I hope she does not believe she is above the law or that the police are treating her crime different to the citizens she purports to represent.

Mark Hamill-Stewart, Bangkok, Thailand

Right, David Davies, so London is one of the most dangerous cities in the world is it? Baghdad, Rio, Bogota, Kingston, all safer? Stop knocking my city, I was born there and I really resent you taking cheap shots. I suppose you will naturally be opposing the Olympics being held in this most dangerous city?

Ken Whysall, Hemel Hempstead,

Actually when you take into account the unpopularity of this incompetent government at the moment I think she's being very wise.

Colin Gardiner, Corby, UK

If this government were "more in touch" with the people, they would realise that they should all wear stab-proof vests at any time they were exposed to any of the population!!!!

Phil, Chelmsford,

"I put it on just as a matter of courtesy and because I was going out with the team". What on earth has putting on a stab proof jacket to do with courtesy?

Why doesn't Ms Harman just forget the excuses and advise that she really did not think what type of message wearing such a jacket sends to the general public?

Mark Stewart, Devizes,

Harriet in a stab proof vest. The picture tells the truth about Britains streets under Labour. I am also sure the three police resources could have been spent doing real work instead of hand holding a politician around her own constiency.

steve tea, manchester, cheshire

Are the govt now going to issue all citizens who enter South London with Police vests?

If Harman needs one, surely the need of ordinary people who do not have an escort of Police Officers is far greater?

Police vests for all in South London and perhaps other areas of the UK with similar risks...

JB, Woking, UK

A critical point has been missed here. We know you don't need to wear a stab vest around Peckham, but we also know (and the photo evidences it) that intervening to stop youngsters from commiting anti-social behaviour is dangerous enough to warrant one. The police officers are under a duty to intervene in any criminal behaviour they see on their walk with Harman, so it is possible her life might be endangered. Contrast Tokyo; you would have to bribe someone to mug you.

Iain, London, UK

If "Ms" Harman needs a flak jacket for a visit then why isn't she campaigning for them to be issued to all her constituents?

roger Kingston, york,

I think it was only common sense. If I had any connection to this Government I would wear one when I went out as well!

Graham, Pattaya, Thailand

Clearly she was wearing the vest to protect herself from any 'policeperson' disgruntled with his/her/its recent pay settlement

Chris M, Ely, UK

Seems like a sensible precaution. I'm surprised she didn't ask for a NATO helmet and semi-automatic too.

Phil, London, UK

Just heard this horrible woman talking waffle on Radio 4, why do the BBC give so much air time to her?

VJB, LONDON,

" people feel safer with a police presents " ... except of course miss H ... who is surrounded by officers and still needs one . Mind you ... given her record she should have had the helmet , shield and baton too .

Biggest bunch of clowns in political history ... time for the circus to be shut down me thinks .

Benzo, Nr Chelmsford,

This is the first sensible thing that Harriet Harman has ever done since bocoming an MP, anybody who walks around Peckham unprotected is risking their life.

Peter Fordham, Pego, Spain

I bet during the next election campaign every prospective Labour candidate will be offered police protection and a stab proof vest.

Cromwell, Leeds, England

Harriet Harman knew how ridiculous this looks for her when on the Today program this morning. She tried to turn it around and say it was the Daily Mail just trying to dig up dirt. But this would seem to be a spectacular own goal - at a time when our government is saying that crime is falling when in fact most people in this country have never been so concerned about the levels of crime.

simon, london, uk

How utterly ridiculous . MP's like Harriet Harman and Jacqui Smith seem further and further detached from ordinary people. They are so out of touch it's really quite frightening. We don't want photo opportunities , we want real action made from having real understanding of real life.

celeste, London, England

If I was the Tories I would have that blown up for the bill boards at the next election with the caption
""Labour - Confident in tackling crime since 1997""

Phill , The Wirral, England

House of Commons business questions should be worth watching this week.

Peter Stroud, Hook, England

I think Ms Harman should be in a psychiatrist’s office on the couch rather than in a Cabinet Office directing the security of the state. I appreciate that as the person directing the police and security apparatus, a certain amount of paranoia comes with the territory but she seems to wallow in it.

Michael, Lincoln,

As she is not a Met Officer is she actually allowed to wear this jacket ? The fact that she feels she has to is proof that even she knows what a mess she and her pals have made of the UK and that the streets of London are no longer safe for UK residents - let alone us overseas visitors. And I'm certainly not coming if it's that dangerous !

peter smith, Montreal, Canada

Why do politicians have an irrelevant excuse?
She didn't explain though why the officers wear the reinforced jackets.

Tony, liverpool, uk

House of Commons business questions could be fun!

Peter Stroud, Hook, England

"It was just a courtesy" RUBBISH. She should have been smart enough to realise that being photographed in this on the streets would make her look completely stupid. Which she does.

Geoffrey, Belfast,

How delightful to see this politcal gaffe by Harriet Harman.
It would be welcome to see it as a defining image of the failure to get to grip with crime and the causes of crime.
Just another blunder from Ms Harman, whose brain is apparently indicating, but never quite manages to pull out onto the road.

Steve B, London, UK

This article yet again highlights the hypocrisy of the Labour administration and reminds me of the recent similar gaff by Jacqui Smith who said she didn't feel safe to walk the London streets at night. Who do they think is in charge of this country? Are they simply not admitting their own failure to tackle violent crime in London? Why do they not admit a public warning to the effect that residents should not venture out after nightfall and should wear stab proof vests in South London.

JC, London,

Great advert for London and good to know she's proud of her city and has faith in our police force. I've worked with a person who worked along side Harriett and this is apparently typical.

Almost 11 years in Power under this party and this proves things are believed worse now than in 1997; this is a transparent government with little faith.

Richard Irwin, Bristol, UK

I thought all cabinet members wore them as protection from Gordon's back stabbing!!

AWilliams, Cradley Heath,

"John Humphrys, the radio interviewer, riposted: “You wear a hard hat on a building site because there are dangers there. There is the danger that something might drop on your head. You don’t need to wear a bullet-proof vest on the streets of London, do you?”

Given the fact that 11 people have been stabbed to death on the streets of London since Jan 1 2008 I would say that there is a danger. How many have been killed by falling objects on building sites? None.

Callum Roxburgh, Jakarta, Indonesia

Why are politicians the world over so clueless?

Bim Masters, NY, USA / NY

you would never have seen maggy thatcher walking round in a stab vest.
And what ever happened to leading by example?

dan, notts,

If Ms Harman claimed that she had only put on the Kevlar-reinforced jacket to be polite, because all the officers were wearing them, maybe she could explain why her politeness didn't extend to wearing a police helmet too? April fool a day early????

Hilary, London,

Welcome to Labour's 'Britain in 2008'

Tim, Sherborne, UK