4:20pm Thursday 2nd September 2010
By Laura Smith
POLICE will soon wear cameras to catch drunken yobs in the act.
Officers who patrol Southend town centre on Friday and Saturday nights will wear the miniature cameras on their chests to record punch-ups and other incidents.
Insp Leigh Norris, of Southend police, said: “The use of the footage will provide additional evidence, and accurate evidence, of what happened during an incident.
“No matter how accurately you want to portray something in a written statement it’s not the same as seeing it and hearing it through CCTV footage.”
It is hoped the cameras will be issued by the end of September.
Cops hope they will also act as a deterrent to troublemakers.
The move is fully supported by Club Watch, made up of 32 of the town’s licensed premises, which has also bought ten cameras for doorstaff across the town.
Simon Patterson, chairman of Club Watch, said: “If there’s an incident you switch them on and they’ve got one-and-a-half hours recording time.
“You let them know their actions are being recorded and, if they want to take anything further, it can be used in evidence.
“It’s all to do with deterrent.
“It’s the same as telling people we’ve got CCTV in the High Street and the clubs and they’re being filmed.
“So if they want to carry on there’s no hiding their face or their actions – and it will be used in evidence against them.”
Yesterday, the Echo revealed the Club Watch bought six new radios to allow direct contact between police and door staff.
The organisation also helps fund the SOS bus which helps clubbers who are in distress, and provided security for the Royal Anglian parade in June.
Mr Norris added: “Club Watch is a forum where you get a variety of opinions, ideas and suggestions about how things can be improved, because everyone wants to work in a safe environment.
“I certainly appreciate the work its doorstaff do.”
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