Courts lack technology to show CCTV

Her Majesty's Court Service is failing to show all the CCTV evidence presented, as some courts lack the technology to play footage, a report has revealed.

Six out of 167 unsuccessful cases were dropped or dismissed in the UK because courts, Crown Prosecution Service offices and defence solicitors use only VHS video equipment. Most CCTV footage, however, is now on DVD, research from the National Audit Office said.

The report said: "In order for a case to progress the police have to obtain the evidence, arrange for it to be reformatted and provide copies for the Crown Prosecution Service and the defence.

"This evidence needs to be available with the full file as it is often conclusive, leading either to early guilty pleas or to early dismissals, thus avoiding the additional costs of a trial."

However, a spokesman for HM Court Service told silicon.com that organisations give CCTV footage to police in a range of formats.

He said: "CCTV footage doesn't just come as DVD - it can be multiplex. We're working closely with others to ensure we can show CCTV in court. It's not quite as simple as playing it on a DVD or a VCR."