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Metropolitan Police officers start wearing body cameras Metropolitan Police officers start wearing body cameras
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Met Police officers are to start wearing cameras on their uniforms as part of plans to boost transparency and accelerate convictions.Met Police officers are to start wearing cameras on their uniforms as part of plans to boost transparency and accelerate convictions.
The cameras are designed to capture evidence at crime scenes.The cameras are designed to capture evidence at crime scenes.
A trial of the cameras will see 500 distributed to officers across 10 London boroughs. Firearm officers will also use them in their training.A trial of the cameras will see 500 distributed to officers across 10 London boroughs. Firearm officers will also use them in their training.
The pilot scheme comes as the force was criticised following the death of Mark Duggan at the hands of armed officers.The pilot scheme comes as the force was criticised following the death of Mark Duggan at the hands of armed officers.
Mr Duggan, 29, was shot in Tottenham, north London, in August 2011. His death sparked riots in Tottenham, which later spread across England. Mr Duggan, 29, was shot in Tottenham, north London, in August 2011. His death sparked riots in the area, which later spread across England.
'Speeds up justice'
Camden Borough is the first to start using the cameras, with further trials in Barnet, Bexley, Bromley, Brent, Croydon, Ealing, Havering, Hillingdon and Lewisham.Camden Borough is the first to start using the cameras, with further trials in Barnet, Bexley, Bromley, Brent, Croydon, Ealing, Havering, Hillingdon and Lewisham.
Officers will store material from each incident and keep it on file for a month unless required for evidential purposes. Officers will store material from each incident and keep it on file for a month unless it is required for evidential purposes.
Some forces, including Hampshire, already use the cameras. They were first used by Devon and Cornwall Police in 2006. Met Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said: "Our experience of using cameras already shows that people are more likely to plead guilty when they know we have captured the incident.
Earlier this week, Bedfordshire Police said 60 body cameras would be used by frontline officers following a successful trial. "That speeds up justice, puts offenders behind bars more quickly and protects potential victims."
'Defuse violence' The Scotland Yard chief said video was a "compelling piece of evidence" and would help record situations which were previously "really hard to capture in writing", such as a frightened child at the scene of a domestic violence incident.
Met commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said the cameras would result in speedier justice for victims, particularly in cases of domestic violence. He also said the "mere presence of this type of video can often defuse potentially violent situations".
"Our experience of using cameras already shows that people are more likely to plead guilty when they know we have captured the incident. That speeds up justice, puts offenders behind bars more quickly and protects potential victims. Sir Bernard added: "I believe it will also show our officers at their best, dealing with difficult and dangerous situations every day, but it will also provide clearer evidence when it's been alleged that we got things wrong.
"Video captures events in a way that can't be represented on paper in the same detail and it has been shown the mere presence of this type of video can often defuse potentially violent situations without the need for force to be used."
He added: "I believe it will also show our officers at their best, dealing with difficult and dangerous situations every day but it will also provide clearer evidence when it's been alleged that we got things wrong.
"That has to be in both our own and the public's interest.""That has to be in both our own and the public's interest."
The force said officers taking part in the pilot must comply with guidelines about when cameras are to be used, but that they will not be permanently switched on. Victim's choice
The debate over the more widespread use of body-worn cameras by British police comes after a jury at the inquest into Mr Duggan's death concluded in January that he had been lawfully killed after being shot dead by Met marksmen - a conclusion which prompted outrage from his family and supporters. The force said officers taking part in the pilot must comply with guidelines about when cameras are to be used, but that they will not be permanently switched on, and people would be informed if they were being filmed.
None of the officers involved in the incident in London were wearing body cameras. The commissioner added: "[We will] only put it on when we know there's a an incident running.
"If the victim wants it to be turned off it will be turned off, but the suspect doesn't have that right."
The debate over the more widespread use of body-worn cameras by British police comes after a jury at the inquest into Mr Duggan's death concluded in January that he had been lawfully killed by Met marksmen - a conclusion which prompted outrage from his family and supporters.
None of the officers involved in the incident in London was wearing body cameras.
Sir Bernard said armed officers would start wearing the cameras in the next few weeks when it was decided where they could be located on uniforms so as not to impede the use of firearms.
Some forces, including Hampshire, already use the cameras. They were first used by Devon and Cornwall Police in 2006.
Earlier this week, Bedfordshire Police said 60 body cameras would be used by front-line officers following a successful trial.