Camera helmets to help police (From Campaign Series)

Camera helmets to help police

8:10am Saturday 4th July 2009

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NEW camera helmets are being used by Blackwood Neighbourhood Policing Team to film and prevent anti-social behaviour.

The team will also be using four new bicycles on their patrols throughout the Blackwood ward to help them cover more ground, whilst still remaining visible to the local community.

Officers also have a new camera, which they can attach to their bicycle helmet and use to record any disorder or anti-social behaviour when out on patrol. The camera is jointly fuded by Safer Caerphilly and Gwent Police. Where necessary, officers will use the footage to show to the parents of any children found acting anti-socially in the area and for evidential purposes when required.

The Blackwood Neighbourhood Policing Team is only the second NPT to trial helmet cameras in Gwent Police.

The cameras were introduced into the Bedwas Neighbourhood Policing Team last year.

Blackwood Inspector, Kevin Childs, said: "The use of bicycles have proven to be a success in other areas of Gwent, particularly in Bedwas where they are also trialling the helmet camera.

"The bikes have been a talking point for the local children in Bedwas, who are keen to speak to the officers when they are on their bikes. The four new bicycles will be a real benefit to the officers, and will enable them to get to more hard-to-access areas and to approach incidents quietly.

"The camera provides us with the ability to film anti-social behaviour and where necessary to show parents the behaviour of their children. If people know that they are being filmed, then it may prevent them from acting anti-socially in the first place."

Superintendent Jon Burley, said: "We have found the use of bicycles to be very successful throughout the Caerphilly Local Policing Unit, and we are looking to introduce more in the future.

"Officers are able to cover a large area when they are patrolling on the bikes, yet they are still visible and are able to interact with the community. The bikes, coupled with the new helmet camera offers us yet another tool to help tackle anti-social behaviour."

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