Plain clothed police told to wear uniform to be more visible South Yorkshire Police insisted, however, that it would be made clear that the staff were not warranted officers but there to provide a helpful "point of contact" for the public. Mr Wright said: "I want to ensure the highest visibility for the police in South Yorkshire, and one way of ensuring this is to make use of those existing resources that aren't being used." The plans have been criticised, however, as an attempt to mask cuts in the number of officers at the force. It follows plans by the Metropolitan Police to issue officers with yellow high visibility jackets as part of their standard uniform prompted concerns that it would make it harder for the public to tell them apart from other people wearing fluorescent safety clothing, such as street sweepers and refuse collectors. Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Martyn Bates, who is leading the visibility project at South Yorkshire Police, insisted that they were keen to ensure detectives "look the part" rather than dressing down while performing their duties. He said they would be told to be "properly suited up with proper identification." It is a case of trying to reinforce the fact that they are part of a professional organisation. It is about displaying their warrant badge and the fact that they are a police officer. Nobody is saying the detectives turn up to work looking a real mess. It is just making sure that they are displaying their warrant cards when they go out of the building and that they are smart. The new visible policing plans, which are still in their early stages, will also see 87 buildings owned by South Yorkshire Police being given new signs to help raise the presence of the force in communities. Neil Bowles, from South Yorkshire Police Federation, warned that the move was an attempt to "paper over the cracks" following recent cuts at the force. He said: "South Yorkshire Police has lost nearly 500 officer posts since 2007 so it is no great surprise that that has had a real impact on the visibly of police. Asking police officers who are attached to CID to wear uniforms seems to defeat the object of them being there in the first place. They are wearing plain clothes to allow them to do their duties. Similarly, by putting livery on CID cars, it will mean they cannot be used for a number of sensitive roles that they are currently needed for.