Misbehave and be caught on camera
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| PC Mike Tripp with one of the head cameras officers in Malmesbury will be wearing |
ANTI-SOCIAL yobs in Malmes-bury could soon find themselves caught on camera.
Police in the town have been equipped with hi-tech cameras, which fit on their headwear.
Officers in the town are planning to use the devices when patrolling known troublespots so that they can confront yobs with video evidence of bad behaviour.
Neighbourhood policing team manager PC Mike Tripp said: "If people are just going out to enjoy themselves without causing trouble, they have nothing to worry about.
"But if they are going to cause mischief it is going to be recorded and they will be shown what they have done.
"Currently officers find people have difficulty believing what they are accused of even when they sober up.
"I think people will be quite shocked when they see how they behave."
In recent months Malmesbury has been plagued by incidents of late- night violence.
To get on top of the problem licensees in the Oxford Street area have curtailed drinking hours.
But their efforts were not enough and earlier this month a booze-fuelled mass brawl kicked off.
Seven people were hurt and police made a number of arrests.
PC Tripp said: "It is a deterrent but it is also a vital piece of equipment when gathering evidence.
"It has got a very good image and it is very powerful when it comes to picking up sound.
"We used to have people carrying video cameras but everybody can carry these from senior officers to PCSOs."
Police are also involved in talks with traders, licensees and North Wiltshire District Council about measures to curb the amount of anti-social behaviour on the town's streets.
And Malmesbury Town Council has said it will revive plans for a CCTV system covering troubled areas.
The new headgear mounted cameras will also be used by police at other kinds of incidents.
"It is really useful at any kind of incident where evidence gathering is critical," added PC Tripp.
8:59am Friday 28th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: Walter McCabe, Freshford on 9:47am Fri 28 Mar 08
Interesting that a nice town like Malmsbury has this as an undercurrent. Just which stones do these oiks crawl out from underneath? Are they usually locals?
Interesting that a nice town like Malmsbury has this as an undercurrent. Just which stones do these oiks crawl out from underneath? Are they usually locals?
Posted by: The Maxter, Chippenham on 10:21am Fri 28 Mar 08
Its in every town. Doesn't matter how nice it looks.
Its in every town. Doesn't matter how nice it looks.
Posted by: The Maxter, Chippenham on 10:23am Fri 28 Mar 08
Its in every town. Doesn't matter how nice it looks.
Its in every town. Doesn't matter how nice it looks.
Posted by: Gaztop, Malmesbury on 10:31am Fri 28 Mar 08
All very well, but the police have to be at the scene in the first place to record the incident, which they very rarely are!
All very well, but the police have to be at the scene in the first place to record the incident, which they very rarely are!
Posted by: ohmygosh, Chippenham on 8:18pm Fri 28 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Gaztop[/bold] wrote:
All very well, but the police have to be at the scene in the first place to record the incident, which they very rarely are![/quote] Very true, quite simply they need more officers on the street, dont believe the government when they tell you we have more police, the thin blue line has never been thinner, eventually a life will be lost due to chronic under staffing!!! :0(
Gaztop wrote:
All very well, but the police have to be at the scene in the first place to record the incident, which they very rarely are!
Very true, quite simply they need more officers on the street, dont believe the government when they tell you we have more police, the thin blue line has never been thinner, eventually a life will be lost due to chronic under staffing!!! :0(
Posted by: grumpyoldcynic, Chippenham on 6:14pm Sat 29 Mar 08
I know this is off the point but I couldn't resist putting it in - I think that every Police Station in the country (yes, every one!) should be open and manned 24 hrs a day 365 days a year. Citizens, frightened or threatened, should always have recourse to police help and police stations should be a place of refuge at any time, day or night. Give the police as much hi-tech equipment as they need, but give the public as much police protection as they need. Some public services, like this, should be without a cost budget - we pay handsomely in our taxes, so the money is in the pot. Less to the EU, for example, and more to our infrastructural services.
I know this is off the point but I couldn't resist putting it in - I think that every Police Station in the country (yes, every one!) should be open and manned 24 hrs a day 365 days a year. Citizens, frightened or threatened, should always have recourse to police help and police stations should be a place of refuge at any time, day or night. Give the police as much hi-tech equipment as they need, but give the public as much police protection as they need. Some public services, like this, should be without a cost budget - we pay handsomely in our taxes, so the money is in the pot. Less to the EU, for example, and more to our infrastructural services.
Posted by: Dennis, London on 4:58pm Tue 1 Apr 08
It would just be nice to see a policeman in Malmesbury, with or without a camera attached!!!!!!!!
[quote]quote[/quote]
It would just be nice to see a policeman in Malmesbury, with or without a camera attached!!!!!!!!
quote
Posted by: Titus, Malmesbury on 10:13am Wed 2 Apr 08
We see them from time to time, but I doubt you could spot them from London.
We see them from time to time, but I doubt you could spot them from London.
Posted by: Dennis, London on 1:37pm Thu 3 Apr 08
[quote][bold]Dennis[/bold] wrote:
It would just be nice to see a policeman in Malmesbury, with or without a camera attached!!!!!!!!
[quote]quote[/quote]
[/quote] I am from Malmesbury, lived their near on 20 years of my life, members of my family still live there, I visit regularly, know a lot of people there still, keep up to speed with local goings on etc, so less of the sarcasm please. You know as well as me in days gone by you could walk up to malmesbury police station and someone would be there, not anymore. In the past you would all know your local policeman etc etc. I say it in support of the existing/current residents of the town, their needs to me a more regular police presence in the town. I am on this forum/debate because I care. Please don't be sarcastic at my posts
Dennis wrote:
It would just be nice to see a policeman in Malmesbury, with or without a camera attached!!!!!!!!
quote
I am from Malmesbury, lived their near on 20 years of my life, members of my family still live there, I visit regularly, know a lot of people there still, keep up to speed with local goings on etc, so less of the sarcasm please. You know as well as me in days gone by you could walk up to malmesbury police station and someone would be there, not anymore. In the past you would all know your local policeman etc etc. I say it in support of the existing/current residents of the town, their needs to me a more regular police presence in the town. I am on this forum/debate because I care. Please don't be sarcastic at my posts
Posted by: Titus, Malmesbury on 11:38am Fri 4 Apr 08
It was somewhat gentle dig at your rather sarcastic comment "It would just be nice to see a policeman in Malmesbury, with or without a camera attached!!!!!!!!" Don't be so touchy.
I have seen them at the station, on the street and in the bakers. I even saw a bobby on a bike once. People do know their names. Having had the misfortune to spend some time living in a city where I was a victim of crime several times and where I didn't know my local coppers from Adam, I think Malmesbury is lucky to still have a working police station at all.
It was somewhat gentle dig at your rather sarcastic comment "It would just be nice to see a policeman in Malmesbury, with or without a camera attached!!!!!!!!" Don't be so touchy.
I have seen them at the station, on the street and in the bakers. I even saw a bobby on a bike once. People do know their names. Having had the misfortune to spend some time living in a city where I was a victim of crime several times and where I didn't know my local coppers from Adam, I think Malmesbury is lucky to still have a working police station at all.
Posted by: unknown08 on 12:13pm Wed 9 Apr 08
No matter what these police officers put into place i do not think the trouble will be stopped all together, people are not scared of the police and thats unfortunatly not going to change.
No matter what these police officers put into place i do not think the trouble will be stopped all together, people are not scared of the police and thats unfortunatly not going to change.
Posted by: unknown08 on 12:14pm Wed 9 Apr 08
No matter what these police officers put into place i do not think the trouble will be stopped all together, people are not scared of the police and thats unfortunatly not going to change.
No matter what these police officers put into place i do not think the trouble will be stopped all together, people are not scared of the police and thats unfortunatly not going to change.
Posted by: captain sensible, wilts on 9:15pm Fri 11 Apr 08
Is it me or does Pc Tripp look like that copper from the comedy film "hot fuzz"?
Is it me or does Pc Tripp look like that copper from the comedy film "hot fuzz"?
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