The Police and Crime Commissioner, John Campion has driven the roll out of Body Worn Video, which is currently happening in Telford.
As part of the PCC’s commitment to a modern, reformed police force, he has signed off a £1million investment in the technology which has been shown to reduce complaints against police officers, help prevent crimes occurring and provide clear evidence of incidents when required.
240 officers and members of frontline staff in Telford and Wrekin are currently being equipped with the technology, following a successful pilot in Malvern, Worcestershire last month. Firearms officers across West Mercia will be next to receive body worn cameras, with plans to roll out to all frontline West Mercia officers and staff by the end of 2017.
John Campion said “I promised that I would invest in a modern, forward thinking police force that makes the best use of technology in order to provide an efficient and effective service. One of the ways I am delivering this is through the rollout of body worn video. This technology provides a higher quality of service for victims with high quality evidence which increases the chance of conviction.
The increased transparency which the video provides helps to reassure both the public and our officers, giving our communities greater confidence in the police service. Following the successful implementation in Malvern, I’m pleased to see the technology now in use in Telford. I look forward to seeing it playing a big part in my vision for a reformed, reassured and safer West Mercia.”
Chief Constable for West Mercia Police, Anthony Bangham, said: “Video captures events in a way that cannot be represented in written statements: footage helps to show the real impact a crime can have on victims, and helps to ensure total transparency in police actions, and in a suspect’s behaviour. From the experience of other forces, we expect video evidence to help us resolve complaints quickly and fairly, and further improve public confidence in local policing. Although video evidence doesn’t replace conventional ways of gathering evidence, it provides us with high quality evidence to share with colleagues and our partners to give us the best chance to secure a conviction in court.”
Issued: Wednesday 31st May 2017