Why use Body Worn Video for policing?

Police Services have, for several decades, utilised video evidence through local CCTV, police vehicle systems and hand-held devices employed during specific operations. In the UK, the police use of BWV commenced with small-scale tests of a head-mounted video system in Plymouth (Devon and Cornwall Constabulary) in 2006. The system was recognised to significantly improve the quality of the evidence provided by police officers at incidents. Today, BWV devices are implemented by every police force in the UK.

BWV creates a video and audio recording of an incident. The position of the camera means those watching the footage see the situation from the officer's perspective. The camera acts as an independent witness, showing what a police officer would have seen, heard, said and did.