London Midland arms staff with body cameras

The train operator, which manages 148 stations and runs between London Euston, Birmingham and Liverpool, hopes the cameras will improve customer service while also deterring anti-social behaviour.

They are being issued to revenue protection and security officers based at London Midland's regional centres in the West Midlands, Crewe and Milton Keynes.

In comes in the wake of the recent terror attacks in Paris and last week's reported terrorist stabbing in Leytonstone Tube Station in London.

Previously, body camera trials on police officers in Wolverhampton and parts of Birmingham have proved so successful that the force now aims to have all response officers wearing one while on duty by April 2016.

Darren Hanley, London Midland's head of revenue protection, prosecutions and security said: "There are a number of advantages with this initiative. Not only does it act as an enhancement to the safety of our employees and customers, it also plays a pivotal role in the evidence gathering process when taking action against fare evaders and those committing anti-social behaviour.

"The evidence gathered from the body cameras, which effectively act as mobile CCTV, will really help us to secure prosecutions against persistent and high-level offenders."

The cameras, worn on the officer's protective vest and the size of a standard smart phone, were used for a six month trial in Birmingham, which covered the equivalent of 430 shifts. They cut the number of incidents where force had to be used while complaints from the public also fell.