Bobbies’ body cams ‘will save domestic violence victims’

GIVING all North Wales beat coppers body cameras will save lives in domestic violence cases, the region’s police boss claims.

He says that being able to record the aftermath of incidents they are called to, including body language and behaviour of the suspected abuser, will help prosecute them.

On average North Wales officers who wear the cameras store up to 150 individual clips a day – with around 30 being stored as evidence.

Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones, a former police inspector, said: “My proudest achievement since taking office was investing in the cameras and getting them out to all frontline officers.

“The feedback I’ve been getting from the police and the Crown Prosecution Service is that the technology is achieving results, and we are getting better and more evidence to prosecute offenders.”

“I constantly read there are decent sentences now for domestic abuse so everybody in the criminal justice system is working together to improve outcomes for survivors of domestic abuse.

“Body-worn video will help save lives. I have no doubt at all about it, because survivors of domestic abuse are very reluctant to give evidence against their partners because of the coercion and control that they hold over them. If we can get evidence independent of that to prosecute, it makes life a lot easier for the survivors, and if the offenders go to prison it gives the survivors an opportunity to rebuild their lives and move on without fear.”

North Wales Police will be the first force in Wales to equip all officers with body cameras. The force now has around 500 of them.