Police use new spy cam at festival (From Burnham & Highbridge Weekly News)

Police use new spy cam at festival

5:33pm Saturday 23rd June 2007

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POLICE at the Glastonbury Festival are the first force in the country to use new mobile cameras which beam pictures of what the police officer is seeing and hearing to screens at the police base.

The system uses encrypted digital video transmission from cameras worn by the police officer as well as transmitting his position via GPS receivers.

Avon and Somerset Constabulary is the first force in the UK to use the system and is trialling it at the Glastonbury Festival.

Supt Adrian Coombs said: "Police across Avon and Somerset have been using the standard head cams for over a year. Teams in the city centre have found them very useful and they have also been used to tackle anti-social behaviour, domestic violence and public order incidents.

"We can see and hear everything happening at the scene which will help the police officer in command to direct resources and make decisions.

"We also see it being useful for evidence gathering during public order situations, football matches and firearms incidents."

He said the festival was an ideal site for the trial, with large numbers of people and police officers.

"If the system is successful it could be rolled out across the force," he said.

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