Armed London police to wear head cameras

By Ilker Girit

ISTANBUL (AA) - Armed police in London will wear head-mounted cameras in future to ensure "greater transparency," the U.K. security forces said on Monday.

"The cameras are being issued to all the Armed Response Units in our Firearms Command, allowing them to wear the new technology on their baseball caps and ballistic helmets," a police statement read.

Officers will receive around 1,000 cameras "to encompass the additional firearms officers". More than 17,500 body-worn cameras are already in service.

Most police officers in the U.K. -- with the exception of Northern Ireland -- patrol unarmed.

"The cameras offer greater transparency for those in front of the camera as well as those behind it," Matt Twist, police chief in charge of Firearms Command, said.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said the technology "will make a real difference to those carrying firearms, increasing accountability and helping to gather better evidence for swifter justice".

According to a July report by the U.K.’s Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) there were six fatal police shootings in the country in the 2016/2017 period, compared to three in 2015/2016.

This was the highest recorded figure since 2004/2005.

The use of mounted cameras was first suggested after the fatal shooting by police of a London man in August 2011 lead to days of serious rioting.

Mark Duggan, 29, was shot by police in Tottenham, north London during an operation when specialist firearm officers were attempting to make an arrest.

An investigation first said an illegal firearm had been at the scene. However, the IPCC later reported there was no evidence Duggan had opened fire on police before being shot, nor was there any evidence the gun had been fired.

An inquest later ruled Duggan had been lawfully killed. A legal appeal by Duggan’s mother to have this ruling quashed was rejected in March this year.