Transport police trial body-worn video cameras for football finals

British Transport Police (BTP) officers have been trialling state-of-the-art body-worn video cameras in the fight against crime at major sporting events.

The innovative VEEcam ® video recorders were successfully deployed for high-profile football matches including last month’s Carling Cup Final at Wembley between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur and the Cooperative Insurance Cup Final at Hampden Park between Celtic and Rangers.

They have also been used in policing fans travelling to Premier League matches and to fixtures with a history of keen rivalry between supporters – such as the FA Cup clash between local adversaries Nottingham Forest and Derby County.

The BTP’s Football Crime Unit says the cameras have been a useful aid to officers monitoring movements of supporters travelling to and from matches and for gathering evidence of any incidents which can assist successful prosecutions.

VEEcam ® – Video for Extreme Environments – has been developed by Bristol-based technology specialist Persides. The robust, easy-to-use cameras are ideal for video or stills surveillance and are also an excellent tool for gathering overt and covert intelligence for organisations which require the ability to reliably record skip-free, high-quality video images.

The Scottish area of BTP has been experimenting with different models of body-worn cameras and has been impressed by the reliability and performance of the VEEcam ® Detective Constable Ian Banyard, Technical Support Unit representative for the BTP in Scotland, said: “We have looked at different systems that are available on the market but some of the cheaper versions do not have the functionality and robustness of the VEEcam ®.”

He added: “Body-worn videos are excellent in situations where it is difficult for officers to carry hand-held video cameras and for operating in some of our more confined spaces, such as on the Glasgow Subway. We have identified that the quality is good enough for us now to look into developing a system to relay the pictures back directly to our tactical commanders. This is something we’re currently striving to achieve in partnership with Persides.

“The cameras certainly help in the evidence gathering process while also acting as a deterrent against crime. I believe people are less likely to offend if they know their actions are going to be captured on film.”

For Detective Constable Graham Naughton, BTP’s Force Football Intelligence Officer, VEEcam ® has offered broad benefits in monitoring travelling fans. He said: “The quality is spot on and the sound is excellent. Although trains sometimes have CCTV, they don’t have sound. Every time we use a camera, the sound is vital because what is said can be key to how situations can escalate very quickly.”

The flexibility in wearing the camera was also an important issue, he said. “One thing I particularly liked about it is that you don’t have to wear it on your head, which can sometimes make it a target,” London-based Graham explained. “Because it’s so easy to attach it can be worn just as easily on a clip on the chest.”

He also highlighted the manageability of VEEcam ® and its compact, self-contained design.

VEEcam ® is undergoing extensive user trials with all the major UK emergency services police, ambulance and fire and rescue.

06 April 2009

About Persides

Persides was created by four individuals who, combined, offer a depth of experience and skills covering all the disciplines required for delivery and support of complex electronic systems.

It has built an impressive reputation in the defence, aerospace and security markets, due to its high-calibre consultancy services and innovative technology products for the electronics systems and software sector. Customers include BAE Systems, Thales and Raytheon.

Although defence and aerospace remain core to Persides’ operations, the organisation’s growing products portfolio has broader commercial capabilities. This prompted a recent decision to split the business into two distinct segments – Persides Consultancy Services Limited, working with clients on highly sensitive and classified defence and aerospace contracts; and Persides Limited, focusing on sales of the highly successful VEEcam® body-worn video system plus product development, new inventions and technology development services.

Managing Director Mark Cook says: “Our highly experienced team at Persides can provide a full and totally comprehensive range of specialist services to provide turn-key solutions for our customers.”

For more information please visit: www.persides.com