The innovative VEEcam – Video for Extreme Environments – has been specially designed to help fight crime at major sporting events, and was successfully deployed at both Hampden and for last month’s Carling Cup Final at Wembley between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.
In addition, the Persides-developed cameras have been used to help police fans travelling to Premier League matches, and for those fixtures in the footballing calendar with a history of keen rivalry between supporters – such as the recent FA Cup clash between local adversaries Nottingham Forest and Derby County.
The BTP’s Football Crime Unit has commented that the cameras have been a useful aid to officers monitoring movements of supporters travelling to and from matches, and for gathering evidence of any incidents which can assist in gaining those all-important successful prosecutions.
Experiences north of the border
The robust, easy-to-use cameras are ideal for video or stills surveillance, and are also an excellent tool for gathering overt and covert intelligence for organisations which require the ability to reliably record skip-free, high quality video images.
The Scottish branch of the BTP has been experimenting with different models of body-worn cameras, and has been impressed by the reliability and performance of the VEEcam. Detective constable Ian Banyard – the Technical Support Unit representative for the BTP in Scotland – told SMT Online: “We have looked at different systems available on the market, but some of the cheaper versions don’t have the functionality and robustness of the VEEcam.”
Banyard continued: “Body-worn videos are excellent in situations where it’s difficult for officers to carry hand-held video cameras and when it comes to operating in some of our more confined spaces, such as on the Glasgow Subway. We’ve identified that the quality is good enough for us now to look into developing a system that will relay the pictures back to our tactical commanders. This is something we’re currently striving to achieve in partnership with Persides.”
In conclusion, Banyard opined: “The cameras certainly help in the evidence gathering process, while also acting as a deterrent against crime. I still believe that individuals are less likely to offend if they know their actions are going to be captured on film.”
Ability to monitor travelling supporters
For detective constable Graham Naughton – the BTP’s Force Football Intelligence Officer – VEEcam has offered broad benefits in monitoring travelling fans.
In conversation with SMT Online, Naughton said: “The quality is spot on, and the sound is excellent. Although trains sometimes have CCTV, they don’t have sound. Every time we use a camera, the sound is vital because what’s said may be key to how situations can escalate very quickly.”
The flexibility in wearing the camera is also an important issue. “One thing I particularly like about VEEcam is that you don’t have to wear it on your head, which can sometimes make it a target,” explained Naughton. “Since it’s so easy to attach it can be worn just as easily on a clip on the chest.”
Naughton also highlighted the manageability of VEEcam and its compact, self-contained design.
VEEcam is currently undergoing extensive end user trials with all of the major UK emergency services – the police, the ambulance and the fire and rescue services.
Persides… everything you need to know
Persides has built an impressive reputation in the defence, aerospace and security markets for offering high calibre consultancy services, not to mention innovative technology products for the electronics systems and software sector.
Formed in 2003, the Bristol-based concern has offered its expertise to some of the biggest names in the defence and aerospace industries including BAE Systems, Thales and Raytheon. The team provides a specialist consultancy service offering a comprehensive selection of capabilities in defining, delivering and supporting complex electronic and software systems in the demanding procurement framework of ‘faster-cheaper-better’.
Persides offers every aspect of support for ‘Through-Life Capability Management’ including bids and proposals, project and engineering management and supply chain management.
