Published: Monday, 30th June, 2008 10:00
Camera cops
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POLICE officers will be given an extra set of eyes to help them fight crime.
Thames Valley Police has purchased 120 mini-cameras, which will be worn on the chest to act as a deterrent and an evidence gathering measure.
Slough officers will receive seven of the mini-cameras and Windsor and Maidenhead are expected to get six.
The equipment includes a compact lightweight digital camera mounted onto the
officers’ uniform, which will transmit images via a cable to a small digital video recorder worn on their belt.
The force anti-social behaviour co-ordinator responsible for the implementation, PC Mike Ellis, said: “This is an exciting enhancement to evidence gathering capabilities of the officers.
“The cameras will give first-hand evidence of any anti-social behaviour and are an excellent visible deterrent – if people know they are being recorded, they are less likely to misbehave.
“During the local and national trials it was found that incidents of alcohol-related crime and disorder and aggressive behaviour were greatly reduced wherever the equipment was deployed.”
The body-worn video equipment will be used by police community support officers (PCSOs) and response officers, who are currently being trained how to use the new
technology.
The equipment has already been used in trials by officers in Windsor and Maidenhead, and received positive feedback.
The technology has been purchased using a grant from the Home Office and funding from various local crime and disorder reduction partnerships.
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