Barnet environment officers to wear body cameras

Officers enforcing laws on littering and fly-tipping in Barnet will now wear body cameras.

Barnet Council said the measure has been taken to provide greater transparency and prevent officers being physically or verbally abused.

Part of the #KeepBarnetClean campaign, the cameras – which will be worn on officers’ uniforms and activated only after a person has been seen committing an offence – will provide a record used to judge the actions of the officers.

It is also expected that complaints made against officers by the public will decline.

Cllr Dean Cohen, chairman of Barnet’s environment committee, said: “We are committed to keeping our enforcement officers safe as they go about their jobs keeping our town centres and streets free from litter. Evidence shows that wearing body cameras can lead to a behaviour change from potential offenders who are less likely to be physically or verbally abusive towards officers.

“The cameras also act as a useful training tool to make sure our enforcement officers are carrying out the correct procedures when approaching individuals or businesses who are caught littering.”