Southern District communications manager Vivien Pullar said 13 police staff from Dunedin and Clutha and nine police staff from Otago rural were trialling new trousers for functionality, comfort and durability.
Acting national manager of operations Inspector Chris Scahill said the trial was part of an open tender process and included 92 front-line staff from Northland, Central, Wellington and Southern Police Districts for a year.
''The trousers will be reviewed in all weather conditions, situations, and seasons for extensive lengths of time to find the best fit for our staff into the future.''
The trial trousers were the same colour as the current trousers, he said.
The current trousers were a 70% wool and 30% polyester blend. The trial trousers were different designs made from various materials.
Front-line staff wanted a more functional type of trousers that better met their needs, Insp Scahill said.
Every four months, the officers would provide feedback on the trousers for Commissioner Peter Marshall. Senior Constable Fred Jansen, of Green Island, said the design of police trousers had not changed since he started with police in 1989.
The trouser pockets could hold a wooden baton but front-line staff used retractable batons, he said. The new trousers' design had an extra back pocket and two extra side pockets.
The trial trousers were machine-washable; the old trousers had to be dry-cleaned, he said.
