West Mercia Police body cameras labelled a success as thousands of clips used as evidence
Thousands of video clips from police officers wearing body cameras are being used as evidence in court, it has been revealed.
A year after West Mercia Police implemented the technology, those behind the scheme have labelled it a huge success.
Police and crime commissioner John Campion, who made the £1 million investment for the technology, said it had not only helped victims find justice, but that it had made officers more accountable.
The latest figures have revealed that each month about 13,000 clips are recorded using body warn cameras across the West Mercia area, with about 15 per cent being used in court.
In June this year there were 13,164 clips captures, and 2,117 were used as evidence.
"Body worn video is playing a significant part in my plans to reform and modernise West Mercia Police and I am pleased to see it having such a positive impact for victims, communities and the police," Mr Campion said.
"One of my key promises was to equip West Mercia Police with the tools to do their difficult jobs to the best of their abilities, and I have delivered on this.
"Not only does it provide a higher quality of service for victims with high quality evidence which increases the chance of conviction, but it makes the police service more accountable with the increased transparency helping to reassure the public and giving our communities greater confidence in the police service."
Protection
Martin Evans, assistant chief constable of West Mercia Police said: "The introduction of Body Worn Video has enabled us to take a substantial step forward with modernising our policing operations. The ability to directly record evidence from the scene of all types of incidents has made successful prosecutions easier to achieve, more quickly and effectively.
"Our officers appreciate the protection they afford as negative behaviour often moderates once advised a recording is being made. The cameras have rapidly become an essential part of modern policing and protecting people from harm is more efficient as a result."
Complaints against officers are also being dealt with more quickly than before body cameras were installed. The cameras, officers say, often provide clear evidence that a complaint was unfounded.
Police have described how in some instances the presence of body cameras has diffused a situation and has had an impact on offender behaviour.
It's also given others a better understanding of people's demeanour in order to support decisions made and has helped provide reassurance to victims.
Research is continuing to find the full extent of the benefits of body warn cameras, especially in areas such as best use of evidence to increase convictions, the potential for early guilty pleas and victimless prosecutions, stop and search, use of force, the increase in public confidence, officer safety and assaults and cost savings.
