Police body cameras could help stop shocking scenes like these, region's crime chief says

Giving all North Wales beat coppers body cameras will save lives in domestic violence cases, the region’s police boss claims.

He says that being able to record the aftermath of incidents they are called to, including the body language and behaviour of the suspected abuser, will help prosecute them.

On average North Wales officers who wear the cameras store up to 150 individual clips a day – with around 30 being stored as evidence.

And the technology that has been brought in could see some of the clips stored for up to 100 years.

Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones, a former police inspector, said: “My proudest achievement since taking office was investing in the body worn videos and getting them out to all frontline officers.

“The feedback I’ve been getting from the police and the Crown Prosecution Service is that the technology is achieving results, and we are getting better and more evidence to prosecute offenders.

“I constantly read there are decent sentences now for domestic abuse which is better than what it’s been in the past so everybody within the criminal justice system is working together to improve outcomes for survivors of domestic abuse.

“Body worn video will help save lives. I have no doubt at all about it, because survivors of domestic abuse are very reluctant to give evidence against their partners because the repercussions are sort of, the coercion and control that they hold over them.

“If we can get evidence independent of that to prosecute, it makes life a lot easier for the survivors, and if the offenders go to prison it gives the survivors and opportunity to rebuild their lives and move on without fear of being stalked or harassed by partners or ex partners.”

North Wales Police will be the first force in Wales to equip all officers with bodycameras. The force now has around 500 of them.