Officers from the western division of Tayside Police are the first to wear the lightweight devices in a special pilot ahead of its commercial launch in June.
Although footage will initially be recorded and downloaded to a computer, SCS Security Design, the company behind the cameras, is working on software that will beam live images back to force’s control room.
Divisional commander chief supt Matt Hamilton said, “Fixed CCTV cameras are an integral part of today’s society and the benefits of its use have been shown on countless occasions to assist in the capture and conviction of offenders.”
“Body worn digital recording systems such as this new camera technology we will be trialling here in Perth are a way of equipping officers with modern technology to obtain high-quality primary evidence, which will assist in the investigation of crime and presentation of cases in court.”
He said that once footage has been recorded, officers can return to the station, plug in the hard drive and, whilst charging it, download encrypted images to a standalone system.
Paul Gibson, managing director of SCS Security Design said, “The camera is lightweight and whilst the Tayside trial will only see officers recording images, the system is also capable of recording sound.”
In 2006, Tayside Police became the first force to use digital CCTV on cycle patrol officers’ bikes.
“Both the mobile CCTV van and the CCTV cameras used by our cycle patrol officers have contributed significantly to lower crime levels and bring safer communities to the people of Perth and Kinross,” chief supt Hamilton said.
