A Head Up on Crime

Head cameras on trial by Police officers across the Fylde Coast are now to be used to tackle and detect cases of Domestic Abuse.

The head cameras, which have already proved successful in Plymouth in reducing incidents of violence, are a useful visual deterrent to violence in all shapes and forms, as people will be aware their actions are being recorded.

BSafe Blackpool has provided the original funding for the scheme, after successfully obtaining a £20,000 grant from the Home Office. Initial findings are that the cameras provide undisputable evidence and successful convictions at court have increased accordingly. The Home Office has now pledged additional funding for a national roll-out based on these original findings.

The cameras are attached to the officer’s head, following eye movement and filming everything the officer sees. When entering premises where domestic violence has been reported the cameras record behaviour, language and also any physical evidence of abuse. When the footage is played back to the victim and offender the results are startling. The victim is much more likely to give a statement and the offender is often unaware that the behaviour displayed is totally unacceptable.

It is hoped the head cameras will have a positive influence on crime reduction

It is hoped one of the results will be more guilty pleas at interview and court, resulting in reduced time and effort by the police and their partners in order to secure successful convictions for offences. It is also hoped that where witnesses retract or don’t show up at court, CPS will still be able to press charges against the perpetrator using the video evidence.

Inspector Dave Barnes, who heads up Operation Summer Nights for Western division said, “This equipment will impact on offender behaviour, provide irrefutable evidence and ensure that the most appropriate justice is administered, in particular around domestic violence.”

Cllr Tony Williams, Chair of BSafe Blackpool and Cabinet Member with responsibility for community safety at Blackpool Council, welcomes the impact the head cameras might have.

He said: "This new piece of technology has the potential to help in a wide range of situations, but we're confident it will have a massive impact on domestic abuse, especially in incidents where victims retract statements. The evidence recorded carries significant weight, and is often a wake-up call to the offender to see how they really act in such a situation.

"Blackpool is one of the first in the region to lead this initiative, building on the pilot project commissioned by the Home Office. Officers using them in the town centre have already reported a big change in people's attitude and behaviour, giving them the extra potential to prevent and deter trouble."