Tyne & Wear equips fire engines with CCTV

Story link: Tyne & Wear equips fire engines with CCTV by Jan Harris

Tyne & Wear Fire & Rescue Service is equipping all of its fire engines with CCTV cameras to protect both personnel and the appliances themselves, from antisocial behaviour.

The digital CCTV cameras can record through 360 degrees. Six cameras will be fitted to the brigade’s fleet of 31 appliances, at a cost of approximately £3,500 per system.

One camera will be located behind the windscreen and the others will be underneath Perspex domes on the top of the engines.

The cameras will monitor the crew members and record any attacks or threats to personnel.

Attacks on staff are a growing problem, with 17 attacks in the area recorded between April and July this year.

Footage from the cameras could be used for legal purposes, helping to secure prosecutions.

Under the new Emergency Services Act, it is a specific offence to obstruct or hinder emergency workers.