Police use of video cameras...

Should the police force use video cameras to record them in action?

This was something I came across this evening on ITV News. The story consisted of riotous outbreaks in South Yorkshire which resulted from anger focused at police over the reports found regarding the Hillsborough disaster taking the lives of 96 Liverpool fans. When riot police were called to the site, they were found to be using camcorder facilities as well as social networking in order to better monitor the situation as it progressed.

Understandably, there were many conflicting opinions on whether or not the police force have the right to use recording facilities like video cameras, as it could be viewed as invading privacy by those who are innocent and have no cause to be caught on such films. However, some citizens interviewed by ITV whom I saw earlier tonight do recognise that the police are attempting to lessen the injustices which have been seen recently as a cause for action. Following the London riots there were various inquests into police attitudes and behaviours against the public, and such issues have always cropped up at one point or another in history.

My personal view is that this introduction of video cameras into police operations should be a welcome development, as injuries and deaths as a result of police action in riots have caused multitudes of upset in the past, and still do for those few families who have lost somebody close to them. If the use of police camcorders can prevent these occurrences and (in circumstances where they were not preventable) bring justice to the families and/or victims, surely it is a worthwhile investment?

I would be very interested to hear your opinions on the topic, so please do comment! Coverage of the story can be found here - http://www.itv.com/news/2012-09-13/police-chief-has-nothing-to-hide-as-boris-johnson-apologises/ - where the professional journalists can probably give you a better run-down of the story than I! I'm simply interested in what people think of this development; whether it is indeed an invasion of privacy or whether it is welcomed by all.

Please please please feel free to leave comments and keep watching for more issues to be debated!

Thanks!