HEAD CAMERAS TO BE DEPLOYED IN GLENGORMLEY

Following a successful pilot scheme in Carrickfergus and the launch of head cameras in Lisburn, officers from both areas will be working alongside their colleagues in Glengormley.

Police in Newtownabbey will be using state-of-the-art digital 'body worn camera' technology.


Chief Inspector Paula Hilman explained: "By wearing body-worn digital recording devices, also known as head-cameras, we hope to deter people from committing crime.
"Also, these cameras essentially bring the scene of an incident into the courtroom. The courts will see and hear the incident through the eyes and ears of the officer at the scene, giving an accurate account of the actions of the accused.
"The cameras significantly improve the quality of evidence captured by police officers, which in turn helps to reduce crime and bring more offenders to justice. It has already been documented in other studies that when shown evidence of their behaviour, offenders are more likely to plead guilty rather than contest their cases in court," she said.
The equipment comprises of a small colour camera, which is openly worn by uniformed officers and linked to a portable hard drive. Every frame of footage is watermarked and cannot be tampered with.
The camera records audio and visual footage, which can be used to show what an officer is seeing and doing at the scene of an incident. It records the actions of people involved in incidents where police are deployed. It also captures the scene at the time and any damage that may have been caused or injuries sustained. However, plain-clothes officers will not use these cameras for covert purposes; they are solely for use by uniformed officers on patrol.
Police have found that deploying the camera technology can provide a number of benefits, which include the ability to:

·  Prevent and deter crime: as the presence of a camera will change the behaviour of offenders.

·  Reduce challenges to police officer evidence in court: as the technology provides a first hand visual and audio account of the evidence.

·  Reduce the number of malicious complaints brought against police officers: as the camera footage will provide an accurate account of what a police officer is seeing, hearing and doing at an incident.

·  Increase the likelihood of early guilty pleas: reducing time to be spent by a police officer and court.

·  To reduce assaults on police officers as offenders are more likely to modify their behaviour if a camera is present.

Chief Inspector Hilman said: "The use of this type of technology will have a significant impact on how the Police Service are able to deal with crime and the fear of crime. The major factor in this type of equipment is that it provides first hand evidence and stops people denying their involvement or the part they have played in an incident.


"It accurately records the effects incidents can have on victims and allows the court to fully appreciate the situation. This technology will greatly assist officers, who previously relied on written statements. It is reasonable for members of the public to assume that where police are in attendance at an incident, there is a high likelihood that at least one officer at the scene will be using a camera.
"The camera unit also allows footage to be replayed at the scene or often when youths are spoken to in the presence of their parents. This also gives parents the opportunity to see exactly why police have had reason to speak with their children," she said.


For further information or to arrange an interview with the Area Commander, Chief Inspector Hilman,, please contact Sergeant Brian McKenna on 028 90 259319.

Notes to Editor

The Police pilot scheme ran in Carrickfergus for 12 months from April 2008

Only uniformed response and Neighbourhood Policing Team officers within D District will have video equipment