City police use bus CCTV

BUSES which constantly film the streets of the Capital are being used by police to catch violent criminals.

Cameras mounted on the dashboards of Lothian Buses’ vehicles have already provided vital breakthroughs for officers investigating serious assaults.

Officials today confirmed that the devices were not currently being used to gather evidence against motorists abusing the city’s Greenways - but refused to rule that out in the future.

Several attacks taking place at bus stops have been captured on video and police are confident that the recording equipment will also help tackle antisocial behaviour and vandalism. The CCTV equipment has been fitted aboard the vehicles to help the company check accident insurance claims involving its services.

But the cameras - which are now installed on more than 200 buses - have also become an important new tool in the fight against crime. They also keep a close eye on motorists, and the images could be used by police investigating driving offences and car accidents.

Pc Martin White, public transport liaison officer for Lothian and Borders Police, said the "bus eye-view" footage had proved key in tracking down criminals.

"There have been a few assaults and serious assaults which occurred at bus stops where the cameras have helped," he added. "We can contact Lothian Buses during our inquiries as there is always the chance that the perpetrators have been filmed."

Police said they have been impressed by the clarity of the images captured by the cameras. Bus interiors are already monitored by eight cameras to help curb vandalism and assaults against drivers and passengers. Up to 70 incidents of malicious damage, theft and assault on buses are reported in Edinburgh every month.

Lothian Buses is spending 250,000 installing television-size screens on around 200 of its double-decker buses, which they hope will act as a further deterrent.

A company spokesman said they were willing to allow police officers to make use of the footage.

He said: "The images from these cameras are used when investigating road traffic accidents and for checking accident claims - the type of camera used precludes their use by us for other purposes.

"However, there are occasions when Lothian and Borders Police approach us for images for use in their own investigations."

The company will have spent a total of 500,000 by the end of the year on CCTV for its buses, depots and travel shops.

In future, the firm hopes to set up a command centre where all images can be automatically transmitted to headquarters and monitored continuously.

Lothian Buses chiefs today declined to comment on whether the on-board cameras were being considered as a way to catch motorists who illegally use bus lanes.

City transport leader Andrew Burns has previously predicted that such devices could prove an effective way of policing Greenways.

In January, the council announced it would bid for funding from the Scottish Executive to introduce the mobile spy cameras to police bus lanes and Greenways across Edinburgh.

Motorists would face fixed fines of around 30 if caught driving in bus lanes outwith permitted hours.

If the Executive agrees to provide the money, roadside cameras will be operating on the Capital’s bus lanes from next year and could also eventually be fitted to the front of buses.