You are here: silicon.com > Public Sector > News

Helmet-cams help police crack down on crime

Police, camera, ASBO...

Tags: police, digital camera, crime, london

By Tim Ferguson

Published: 21 November 2006 12:40 GMT

A London police unit is tackling anti-social behaviour using small helmet-mounted digital cameras.

Officers in Haringey will use the cameras to gather digital images that can then be used as evidence in the event of court proceedings.

The cameras will first be used as part of the five-day Operation Aventail, which will be carried out by the borough's Safer Neigbourhood unit and focus on anti-social behaviour.

Detective superintendent Richard Wood, head of the operation, said in a statement: "Should anyone commit any offences the officers will instantly have the evidence to hand to help them apply for an ASBO or pursue criminal charges."

Postcards from the bleeding edge…

Read the latest missive from tech guru and silicon.com columnist, Peter Cochrane, as he blogs from around the world.

The cameras are similar in size to an AA battery and the images are stored on a special utility belt. The kit costs around £1,800 per officer and has been funded by the council's Safer Communities Partnership.

DS Wood added that if the cameras prove successful they will be used by other Haringey units and could assist in police raids or police presence at football matches.

The unit is using several other tactics as part of Aventail. These include airport-style weapon searches, automated number plate recognition (to identify stolen vehicles), targeting of crime hotspot areas and an increased visibility of patrols.

Haringey Borough covers several London police stations in Tottenham, Wood Green, Hornsey, St Anns and Muswell Hill.

  1. Zones
  2. Management
  3. Networks
  4. Software
  5. IT Services
  6. Hardware
  1. Verticals
  2. Public Sector
  3. Financial Services
  4. Retail & Leisure

silicon.com Public Sector
Get the latest public sector news straight to your inbox. Sign up for the PS newsletter today!


  • Jobs
Equities Production Support Specialist – (Investment Banking)

Principal Accountabilities • Working to resolve problems and incidents to enable the operation to continue to run and deliver service ...

Product Manager

You will be responsible for all development and maintain up to date and in depth understanding of evolving customer behaviour on the site and ...

Communications Operational Engineer

Communications Operational Engineer 35,211 plus 3,379 location allowance London SW4 52,000 people make up the UK’s largest police service. Ever ...

Nick Heath
Let's shine a light into the public sector IT money pit
With £16bn being spent, why is productivity still falling?

Tim Ferguson
BBC is taking tech seriously, so give it a break!
Auntie is the envy of the world but doesn't get the credit it deserves at home...

Peter Cochrane
Peter Cochrane's Blog: Open info for all?
Government stonewalling citizens

Nick Heath
Home Office CIO on taming tech and why ID cards are good news
Interview: Annette Vernon, Home Office CIO

Nick Heath
NHS records, Google and Microsoft: Where do you want your data?
Politicians: Heal thyself

Alan Hunt
NHS network: Time to get secure
Patient data in need of a check up

Agenda Setters 2009
Welcome to the ninth annual Agenda Setters poll – silicon.com's list of the top 50 most influential individuals in the technology and IT industries, from techies and CIOs to entrepreneurs and business leaders. Find out more in our latest special report.




Quick Sitemap Links: