Police officers in Aberdeenshire to be issued with body worn video camera

Published on 04/12/2012 15:48

GRAMPIAN Police are to issue officers throughout Aberdeenshire with a body worn video camera as part of the force’s drive to become the first in Scotland to provide surveillance technology cameras to every officer.

The use of the pioneering video technology has already been successfully piloted in Aberdeen and the scheme is now to be rolled out across the Aberdeenshire division in the fight against crime.

A force spokesman said: “Officers have already praised the cameras for allowing them to spend more time in their communities and for their evidence gathering capability. The overt cameras take clear and accurate digital video, are lighter than a mobile phone and can provide potentially crucial evidence.

“They are worn on the upper body and have been used as part of a broad range of police work including patrols, during drugs search warrants and as a dashboard camera in police vehicles.”

He added: “During their first year of operation in Aberdeen City, of the cases proceeded with by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service which used the video as evidence, in excess of 90 per cent resulted in a guilty plea.”

Inspector John Esson, who is leading the roll-out of body worn video cameras in Aberdeenshire, said: “The use of these cameras by police, community and traffic wardens throughout Aberdeenshire could cut crime, improve service delivery, reduce the time officers spend on paperwork and provide staff with some additional protection.

“The use of these cameras in Aberdeen City has already shown that they can assist in bringing early guilty pleas and result in less time being spent in court for both our officers and the victims of crime.

“The reduction in time spent on paperwork means more time for our Local Policing Teams to spend in their communities.”