National calls for all police officers to wear body cams are in line with what is already happening in Staffordshire.
David Davis MP today called for all police to use body worn video cameras to record their actions to help rebuild public trust.
It was announced earlier this month that all frontline police officers, PCSOs and Special Constables are to get body cams in a scheme funded by Staffordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Ellis.
Staffordshire Police is believed to be the first force in the UK to have body cams for all frontline officers.
The body-worn video cameras will be rolled out to officers across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent in coming months following a successful pilot by Newcastle-under-Lyme Local Policing Team.
They were commissioned by Mr Ellis as part of a major investment in new technology that will see officers provided with the right tools to do their job.
The cameras will improve evidence gathering, give better protection to officers, ensure transparency when dealing with the public and prove invaluable in instances where there are complaints against officers.
They will also lead to efficiencies and savings at court through the use of video evidence instead of thousands of written words – cutting paperwork and getting officers back on the streets.
The scheme will provide 530 new cameras at police bases – enough for every frontline officer, PCSO and Special Constable on duty at any one time. It will allow officers at the touch of a button to record video and audio at crime scenes, including low-light situations, which can then be played directly in court as evidence.
Mr Ellis said: “This is one of the easiest decisions about investment I’ve made so far.
“The advantage of having these cameras is that it starts to remove any doubts as to what happened because it’s caught on film and ensures openness and transparency in policing.
“It will help officers get the best possible evidence, it will protect people who are being arrested and it will save a vast amount of time by providing actual pictorial evidence in court rather than thousands and thousands of words.
“This is at the centre of my Safer, Fairer, United Communities strategy which is about investing now to save money later and free up officer time. It is part of a major technology plan to free up officer time and create thousands of extra hours of visible policing.”
Chief Constable of Staffordshire Police Mike Cunningham said: “Body worn video is a great tool for officers which means they can capture evidence from victims and witnesses and deal with vulnerable people more effectively.
“The cameras will provide a better quality service and bring people to justice more quickly by assisting with early guilty pleas and swift prosecutions. Courts will be able see first-hand exactly what an offence looked like on the particular day in question.
“It will also provide a lot more transparency for staff – particularly around stop and search – and increase public confidence in policing.”
