Beat officers to use head cameras

BBC
Nov. 20, 2006

Police are to use head-mounted video cameras to help in the fight against anti-social behaviour.

Eight Metropolitan Police officers in Haringey, north London, will use the devices on the beat, to record evidence of people causing trouble.

The tiny Ł1,800 cameras, each the size of an AA battery, will be fitted onto the side of the officers' headgear.

Police say the clearly visible cameras will act as a deterrent, as well as an evidence gathering tool.

They record high quality digital images, which are then fed back and stored in a special utility belt.

The head cams have been used in other parts of Britain but will be used for the first time in London by Haringey's Safer Neighbourhoods team this week.

Haringey Council's Safer Communities Partnership is funding the cost of the equipment, which is being used as part of a five-day crackdown on anti-social behaviour in the area. The video images are said to be of very good quality and they could be used in court as evidence to support a prosecution, or in support of an application for an anti-social behaviour order (Asbo).

Detective Supt Richard Wood said: "If the cameras prove successful they will be deployed to other units within Haringey and could be used to assist police raids and officers working at football matches."

Haringey councillor Nilgun Canver said: "The new cameras are a fantastic and effective policing tool.

"We know they work, supply good quality images and are versatile for patrolling football crowds and shopping precincts.

"They can also be used for more intricate work such as dealing with domestic violence or any incident where the photographic evidence will help with a conviction."