Bromley police using headcams as evidence in court

11:50am Sunday 28th June 2009

FOOTAGE from headcams worn by police is being used as evidence in around 18 court cases each month.

Since Bromley police began a pilot scheme to use body-worn cameras in October last year, around 100 films have been made which could be used as evidence if required.

The 45 sets purchased with Home Office funding are used by officers on patrol, transports teams and safer neighbourhood teams.

Using headcams to respond to calls about anti-social behaviour or domestic violence is seen as particularly important.

PC Tony Lewis-Webber from the Headcam unit said: “As soon as officers receive a call they press record so that as soon as they arrive it will be on film.

“People at court would be able to see that. Whatever comes across the radio is being recorded too.

“If they bring someone in to the station, they can leave the camera on until they are at the custody suite.”

Chief Inspector Marshall Kent, head of operational policing at Bromley said: "Headcams give officers the ability to collect the best possible evidence in order to assist in investigations and support the prosecution of offenders.

“It's like seeing an incident for real and the Magistrates can see how obnoxious and nasty offenders are and sentence them accordingly. The footage provides powerful and compelling evidence, especially in cases of domestic violence.

“There has also been a noticeable improvement in people's behaviour on buses when officers patrol using body worn videos".

The light-adjusting headcam is the size of a marker pen which feeds images and sound to a digital recorder.

Officers can also wear a camera on their chest.

To avoid any possibility of the evidence being tampered with, the film cannot be edited.

Images are uploaded onto a computer in an office designed to store and deal with the footage.

Officers must make people aware they are being recorded at the first available opportunity.

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