In any American crime show, sunglasses figure almost as highly as a gun on a cop's list of essential equipment.

But in Essex, police officers have been warned to leave their Ray-Bans at home no matter how cool they want to look.

A rulebook states that shades hide the eyes and can intimidate people on the street.

Essential equipment: David Caruso wears his shades with pride in CSI: Miami, but he wouldn't be granted such a privilege in Essex

They are still allowed for police drivers who might be blinded by sunlight during a high-speed chase.

But, unless medically prescribed, they must otherwise 'be removed when contact is made with members of public'.

The ban on sunglasses is reminiscent of British troops' attempts to win the 'hearts and minds' of Iraqis shortly after the Allied invasion in 2003.

Unlike their American counterparts, UK soldiers removed their shades, enabling them to make eye contact with locals and build trust.

Banned: Miami Vice stars Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx in their sunglasses but police are not allowed to wear them because they can intimidate the public

This is another example of the no-nonsense attitude expected of Essex Police officers by their chief constable, Roger Baker.

On his first day in the job, he demanded his officers make 600 extra arrests within a week.

He also told criminals: 'If you are planning on committing a crime, bring a toothbrush because you will not be going home.'

Officers were also banned from sending emails to each other one day a week to encourage talking to each other.

The approach has seen crime levels in the county fall 11.6 per cent in the past three years.

Officers in the U.S. crime show C.S.I wearing sunglasses. In Essex, all officers except police drivers must remove them when they speak to the public