Police get ahead in war on thugs

May 8 2007 By Mark Cowan, Birmingham Mail

BUS bobbies wearing Robocop-style headcams are already proving a winner in the war on thugs blighting the lives of the travelling public.

The cameras, mounted on the side of an officer's head, record everything they hear and see while out patrolling the bus network.

On their first day's use, the cameras helped in the arrest of two people.

A 24-year-old man was the first to be arrested during the operation in Saltley Gate, Alum Rock, last week after he was taken off the bus for fare evasion.

On further questioning, he was found to be in possession of stolen items and wanted for bail offences.

The second arrest was a 17-year-old who, on being advised about officers using the headcam equipment, showed the officers he was carrying drugs.

Insp Ian Grundy, of the force Safer Travel team, said: "We have only recently taken delivery of the headcams but they are already proving their worth.

"They are helping reduce crime and make people feel safer on the bus network.

"We hope potential offenders will be deterred from committing crime on the buses due to the presence of both uniformed and plain-clothed officers and the new addition of the headcams.

"We want people to come to Birmingham and feel safe using the city's excellent public transport network."

The tiny £1,700 headsets will now be used on daily patrols across the West Midland bus network in a crime crackdown.

Travel West Midlands corporate affairs director Phil Bateman said: "This investment in new technology is excellent and will no doubt assist the police in both deterring and detecting crime in and around the bus network here in the West Midlands.

"Coupled with our 5,000 CCTV cameras, this is a welcome addition which also backs up our commitment to making travel safe, secure and simple."