West Mercia Police officers may soon be fitted with body cameras
Police officers in West Mercia could soon be carrying body cameras as a matter of routine.
Barrie Sheldon, deputy to Police and Crime Commissioner Bill Longmore, said the force was awaiting the results of a trial being carried out by officers in Staffordshire.
He said it was possible the cameras could be rolled out, meaning every officer would be required to clip a camera to their uniform when on duty.
Policing Minister Damian Green has called for cameras to be used more widely in England and Wales to protect officers from people who make false allegations.
He said it would ensure the police record of what happened at an incident was absolutely accurate.
Mr Sheldon said: "West Mercia has already used body cameras while tackling violence.
"If an officer is carrying out some evidence based work if would be interesting to see if the cameras could contribute.
"It could also provide the public with more confidence in policing.
"We are aware it is being carried out in other areas but we'd have to discuss any changes with the chief constable. We will wait until the report comes out."
Mr Green said he wanted every police officer to have 21-century technology to do their job.
Evidence from the cameras would have the same status as a written statement from an officer who went to the scene of the crime.
Staffordshire Police says supplying its front-line staff with the cameras has helped cut crime and speed up prosecutions.
The force is spending £330,000 on 500 lapel-worn cameras for officers, PCSOs and volunteer specials. It will become the first in Europe to have every officer equipped with the devices.
Staffordshire's Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Ellis said: "These cameras are exceptional value for money.
"They will free up officer time and create thousands of extra hours of visible policing.
'It will help officers get the best possible evidence. It will protect people who are being arrested and it will save a vast amount of time by providing actual pictorial evidence in court rather than thousands and thousands of words."
But civil liberties campaigners warned the public could be filmed unwittingly if they are not aware the camera is on.
Nick Pickles, director of Big Brother Watch said: "As a bare minimum, no member of the public should be subjected to this kind of surveillance without being fully aware it is taking place, why and how they can access a copy for themselves."
