Get involved: send your photos, videos, news & views by texting bfp news to 80360 or email
Click the place for news in your area: Amersham, Beaconsfield, Bourne End, Chesham, Cookham, Flackwell Heath, Gerrards Cross, Great Missenden, Hazlemere, Holmer Green, Lane End, Marlow, Prestwood, Princes Risborough, Stokenchurch, West Wycombe, The Wooburns, Wycombe
1:09pm Friday 18th July 2008
POLICE officers have started to wear cameras fitted to their jackets to provide filmed evidence of alleged crimes.
Four of the cameras have been handed to Wycombe and Marlow police stations.
They are connected to a computer disk which clips onto the officers' belts and can record up to two hours of video and sound.
PC Russ Murden, neighbourhood inspector for High Wycombe, said the cameras would be sent to jobs and used routinely on Tuesday and Friday nights.
Fights and similar public order offences were the types of crimes officers expected to capture on film, he said.
"It is a little bit like Robocop come home. It is very simple technology, very light and easy to use."
He added: "When people see cameras in the area it can diffuse situations when they realise whatever is being said or done is all being captured and could potentially be used in a future prosecution."
Camera evidence had already led to a suspect being remanded in custody when brought before a court, he said.
This might not have happened without video evidence, he said.
Responding to concerns about today's surveillance society' he said officers would wear armbands, indicating they are using cameras and the devices would be used openly.
To watch an interview with PC Murden and to see video footage taken from the new cameras, click on the link above.
Enter your postcode, town or place name
Find a job in Buckinghamshire.
Search Now »
Make a date in Buckinghamshire now!
Search Now »
Search for properties across the UK.
Search Now »
Find used vehicles for sale in Buckinghamshire
Search Now »