A total of GB pound 3m has been allocated for the technology, which will now be rolled-out across all 42 of the country’s forces.
When worn by police the clip-on cameras will film everything the police officer sees, which the Home Office says will make it much harder for offenders to mislead juries about what actually occurred.
The cameras, which also record sound, are said to cut down on both paperwork and the amount of time spent by officers testifying in court.
The decision to use the cameras nationwide was taken after a successful pilot by Devon and Cornwall Constabulary last year. Police officers involved praised the cameras for their ability to deter crime and to provide ‘incontrovertible’ evidence in court.
Home Office Minister Tony McNulty said, ‘The government is committed to tackling violent crime and anti-social behaviour, and the assessment so far is that the deployment of this new technology could be very effective in reducing crime, acting as a preventative tool, and a means to enhance detections.’
However, a statement from the Association of Chief Police Officers warned that head cameras have the potential to permanently change police relations with communities.
The organisation’s President Ken Jones said, “We need to guard against creating an expectation that all police activity ought to be supported by the use of digital recording technology.”
The Home Office has issued guidance on its website, which was created with the help of the Information Commissioner’s Office and the Crown Prosecution Service. The 113-page document aims to standardise the use of the technology throughout the country.
