Body worn cameras approved for city’s Enforcement Officers

They have been used successfully by other councils around the UK and have helped to provide essential recorded evidence needed to successfully prosecute those who flout the law.

 Councillor Lewis Herbert, Leader of Cambridge City Council, said: "Our Enforcement Officers play a vital role in keeping Cambridge cleaner, greener and safer for both residents and visitors but they are also often at the sharp end in dealing with difficult and sometimes confrontational situations.  On occasions they are subject to unreasonable abuse, which the Council needs to add protection to prevent, as well as ensure a proper conversation when anti-social behaviour is followed up.

"The use of Body Worn Cameras has been shown to help de-escalate many potentially volatile situations as well as providing clear evidence where complaints or challenges are made, in the interests of all involved. We have learned a lot from the experience of the police in implementing Body Worn Cameras, and Council use will be subject to strict policies including that we will also report back on them annually.  This will be a positive addition to help tackle environmental crime, deal with offences fairly and make Cambridge safer for all."

The full committee report on Body Worn Cameras can be found here

Experience from other councils suggests prosecutions could be further improved through the use of video evidence and along with providing this, the cameras also enhance personal safety for enforcement officers against aggressive individuals.  Some 75% of instances in which officers issue a fixed penalty notice involve them being subjected to verbal abuse by members of the public.