A video showing how new body worn cameras launched in Brent could capture vital evidence has been released by the Metropolitan Police.

Body worn video (BWV) was rolled out in Brent on Monday (November 21) as part of a large scaled deployment which will see 22,000 frontline officers use the equipment by next summer.

The mock film is shot from the perspective of two separate BWV cameras from officers attending an incident.

The audio from the witnesses, who are recounting the incident, shows how different people can recall something and highlights how the cameras aim to bring speedier justice for victims.

The new cameras are now rolled out in west London's Brent and Westminster

The west London borough, along with Westminster, is one of the earliest areas to be issued the equipment after a successful trial.

Chief inspector Andy McNaughton of Brent borough said: "We are delighted to launch Body Worn Video on Brent.

"It is gives us an excellent opportunity to provide greater support to the most vulnerable in the community.

"Video footage will help capture the best evidence, securing quicker convictions, protecting victims and freeing up officers time to be back out on patrol reassuring the community.

"We hope the use of BWV will continue to inspire confidence in the community in the service we provide."

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Police have highlighted the trial proved particularly successful in domestic abuse cases where there has been an increase in earlier guilty pleas from offenders who know their actions have been recorded.

But the force added the technology also offers greater transparency for those in front of the camera as well as behind it, with officers being filmed during stop and searches.

A Met Police statement read: "We have published a short video to illustrate how the cameras work and how they can recall a specific moment in time that can be difficult to recall in high pressure situations.

"The film is designed to communicate the benefits of Body Worn Video (BWV) primarily for members of the public, to improve the transparency and accountability of policing.

"It is a fictitious scenario filmed entirely using BWV and shot from the point of view of two officers.

"The film aims to demonstrate that BWV can capture vital evidence and is a useful tool in establishing the truth after the event."

Body Worn Cameras: Your Questions Answered

What happens to the footage recorded?

The footage from the Axon Body Camera is automatically uploaded to secure servers once the device has been docked, and flagged for use as evidence at court or other proceedings.

Video not retained as evidence or for a policing purpose is automatically deleted within 31 days.

Can people see what has been recorded?

If the public wish to view footage taken of them they can request, in writing, to obtain it under freedom of information, under data protection laws.

It must be within 31 days, unless it has been marked as policing evidence and therefore retained.

Does it record police activity all day?

The cameras will be worn attached to the officer's uniform and will not be permanently recording.

This ensures that officers' interactions with the public are not unnecessarily impeded.

Members of the public will be told as soon as practical that they are being recorded and when the camera is recording, it is highly visibly - notable by a flashing red circle in the centre of the camera and a frequent beeping noise when the camera is activated.

When was the decision made to bring them in?

In November 2015, the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC), following a successful trial awarded a three-year contract worth £3.4 million to Axon Public Safety UK Limited, to supply the MPS (Metropolitan Police Service) with 22,000 cameras.

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