Police community support officers in Witney have been issued with head cameras to give them more protection when they are on the beat.

This week, PCSOs had their first patrols with the £1,000 mini video cameras - which, it is hoped, will cut drink-fuelled crime as well as recording antisocial behaviour.

West Oxfordshire police commander Ch Insp Dennis Evernden said: "In terms of moderating people's behaviour, they are better than CCTV cameras. We have been quite stunned by some of the verbal abuse PCSOs said they get.

"If a police officer received a similar level of abuse from someone, that person could be arrested for a public order offence. Now, we will be able to record the crime and come knocking on the offender's door."

Neighbourhood manager, Sergeant Scott Evans, said: "The headcams will be used by the Witney team to reduce alcohol-related crime and disorder - and to reduce aggressive behaviour towards our PCSOs.

"It's surprising how much a person's behaviour improves once they see a camera."

The introduction of the cameras, which can be clipped to a hat or helmet, follows a successful trial in Witney last May.

The cameras, unlike CCTV, pick up sound as well as images and will be used by police officers and PCSOs. Thames Valley Police communications officer, Toby Shergold, said: "PCSOs get quite a hard rap, and they put themselves in vulnerable positions without the kit a police officer has.

"This is a way of beefing up their armoury, so if something happens they have immediate evidence. The cameras also work very effectively in tackling domestic violence as officers can attend an incident and record the blood, hurt, and tears and then use that evidence in court."

PCSO Tracy Waller said: "It's early days for us yet, but we hope it will deter people from treating us antisocially. We are looking forward to gathering more evidence on crimes as we go about our duties."

If the two cameras paid for by the West Oxfordshire Community Safety Partnership are successful, five more could be bought for the West Oxfordshire towns of Carterton, Eynsham, Woodstock and Chipping Norton.