Body cameras for Metro staff
NEW INITIATIVE TO TACKLE ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR ON THE RAILS
Metro staff are being issued with body cameras to tackle anti-social behaviour.
Nexus, the public body which owns and manages the Tyne and Wear Metro, has issued frontline staff with body-worn CCTV cameras as part of an initiative to deter anti-social behaviour.
The digital cameras, which clip into the lapel of a jacket, have been given to customer service advisors on duty across the Metro system and local bus stations.
Nexus began a trial of the new technology last year, and it is now rolling out the scheme permanently as it steps up a campaign to reduce low-level disorder and fare evasion.
Metro Services director, Chris Carson, said: “These new cameras will help to deter anti-social behaviour on our network and give reassurance to law abiding customers.
“It will make people think twice about challenging members of staff who are just doing their jobs.
“Footage can be passed to the police for them to use as evidence. The images are captured digitally, so the footage is crystal clear.
“Overall crime rates on the bus and Metro network remain low, but we are stepping up our efforts to crackdown on issues of anti-social behaviour and ticketless travel.
The body-worn cameras provide our staff with a new tool in this fight.”
Metro Neighbourhood Policing Team Sergeant Tim Hand of Northumbria Police said: “The introduction of body cameras for frontline Nexus staff will really help us when tackling issues of anti-social behaviour on public transport and around the stations.”