NEIGHBOURHOOD police and fast response officers are to be issued with body worn cameras that will capture footage of incidents.

There will be a total 68 cameras won on the shoulders of officers in Oxfordshire, with 22 in Oxford.

The new cameras will allow images and footage to be quickly downloaded, freeing up officers’ time, compared to the old system which downloaded footage that was then burned to DVD.

The footage could then be used as evidence by the courts.

Inspector John Linsdell, who is based at Oxford and Cowley police stations, said: “When officers go to an incident they can turn on the recording device, and in real-time that records what takes place. People will be told ‘I am recording.’ It is quite clearly a camera, there is nothing covert about it.”

He said officers already use recording devices in public order situations and operations, but added: “This is an upgrade in technology and it is more user friendly.”

The cameras will be used for patrols and incidents including policing the night time economy, dealing with domestic violence incidents, and antisocial behaviour incidents.

Baljit Ubhey, chief crown prosecutor for Thames and Chiltern Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said: “The benefits of the cameras are vast. They will discourage unruly behaviour during arrests, thereby protecting officers and the public, rule out issues of offender identification, and will provide indisputable evidence, which will assist the CPS when making charging decisions and prosecuting cases at court.”