Litter officers given bodycams to film abuse

LITTER officers have been equipped with bodycams, after their council insisted they needed protection from abuse.

Staff members responsible for maintaining the streets of Hinckley and Bosworth in Leicestershire will wear the cameras during shifts, and switch them to record if they witness any offences being committed. This includes physical or verbal abuse of officers.

The council said its employees have a right to feel safe at work, and the cameras will also provide greater transparency of how they go about their duties. Enforcement officers have the power to issue fixed penalty notices for littering.

Anyone who is being filmed by the cameras will be told this is happening as soon as the officer is able to.

Bill Crooks, the council’s executive member for Streetscene Services, said potential offenders are less likely to be abusive if they know that they are being filmed. In addition, the footage can be used to train enforcement officers and ensure they are handling incidents correctly, he said.

A council spokesman said: “Those being recorded will be told as soon as possible they are being filmed. The cameras will provide officers with a record of everything said, which can also be used to make sure officers are carrying out the correct procedures.”

Michael Mullaney, the council’s executive member for community safety, said: “Local enforcement officers have a right to feel safe as they go about doing their important work locally.”