Body cameras for Blackburn PCSOs
Monday, 08 February, 2010
POLICE Community Support Officers have been given state-of-the-art body cameras to help tackle anti social behaviour in Blackburn.
Six of the cameras will be used by members of the South West Neighbourhood Policing Team after funding from the local Neighbourhood Board.
The cameras, which have previously been used by response officers to tackle violent crime and domestic violence, will be used by PCSOs in the Galligreaves, Mill Hill, Ewood, Lower Darwen, Feniscowles, Pleasington, Nova Scotia and Infirmary areas of the town.
This is the first time PCSOs have used body cameras in Blackburn and officers hope they will help neighbourhood policing teams to gather evidence of anti social behaviour. Police will also use them to improve road safety around schools.
Sergeant Paul Schofield said: "These cameras are an additional tool which can be used by neighbourhood officers to gather evidence of anti social behaviour.
"They should act as a deterrent to anyone committing anti social behaviour whilst reassuring residents that police are doing all they can to make communities safer."
The cameras are a similar size and weight of a mobile phone and clip onto the officers' stab vest. They record both pictures and sound and allow around four hours recording time. Officers will warn those that they intend to film before switching the camera on.
