The trial of body-worn cameras by several police forces will herald a dramatic drop in complaints against police if a similar trial in California is any measure. Video surveillance manufacturers will certainly watch with interest at the prospect of this nascent surveillance market burgeoning.

Roughly the size of a cigarette packet and manufactured by Taser, cameras have been issued to officers in 10 London boroughs as part of a £815,000 trial. Numerous other forces are already trialling the cameras or planning to follow suit.

Other manufacturers in the embryonic body-worn video market include Digital Ally, Edesix, Pinnacle [pictured], Reveal, VieVu, and Wolfcom. Little research has been done on pilots already undertaken in Britain but during a year-long trial in Rialto, CA., near Los Angeles complaints against the police plummeted by 88% and incidents where officers used force by 60%.

Police Chiefs are also anticipating speedier justice for victims and a jump in prosecutions and convictions. Former Shadow Home Secretary David Davis has backed the cameras’ introduction, suggesting they would have prevented the Plebgate incident and brought clarity to several court cases, including those relating to the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes, the death of G20 newspaper vendor Ian Tomlinson, and the killing of Mark Duggan.

“In each case there wouldn’t have been any dispute over the facts,” he said. “It’s an extremely good idea. Everyone will be a winner. I think it should be introduced to every police officer in Britain, with the exception of approved covert or undercover officers.”[…]