MINI-CAMERAS worn on an ear-clip on officers heads are the new crime-busting devices to be used by the Met, following the decision of four London councils to help fund a pilot project.
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“These cameras will hopefully make it safer for people who want a night out,” said Peter Gardiner of Havering Council, which has found £16,000 for the scheme.
The other councils involved are Camden, Bromley and Wandsworth.
The cameras are thought to have two main benefits. First, the hope is they will put off would-be trouble-makers from committing crimes and second, if crimes are committed, the film taken by officers can be used as evidence in court.
There is a third plus point for nostalgia fans: the police will be able to bring back the phrase “what you need is a good clip around the ear”, without fear of offending politically correct young ruffians.
London is currently reckoned to be the most CCTVed city on earth, but it looks like there could be a camera arms race going on. Paris authorities recently unveiled plans to install thousands of CCTV cameras on their city’s streets in a brave attempt to catch up.
Brave, but probably futile as within days, London Mayor Boris Johnson announced a big trial of CCTV cameras on buses.
