he orange flashes are not to cover their numbers, they are used to identify different ranks or specialist units when public order kit is worn. White for sergeants, red for inspectors, orange for the evidence gathering teams. Numbers are usually stuck on the back of the helmets.
Incidentally there were no numbers on their helmets, hats or jackets. They were also getting very sniffy at anyone pointing a camera in their direction – I guess because it’s now illegal take a photograph of a police officer (or am I misinformed on that rather scary point?)
Oh, they also parked up two big ambulances just round the corner, I’m guessing ‘just in case’