EVERY frontline officer in Dorset will be issued with body worn video cameras to capture “vital evidence” and ensure greater transparency, force bosses say.

The small cameras, which are attached to uniforms, allow officers to record incidents and encounters when necessary.

Hundreds of firearms officers were issued with the cameras last summer following a trial and public consultation.

The scheme, jointly spearheaded by Dorset Police and Devon and Cornwall Police, has now been expanded to all uniformed PCs.

Project lead Superintendent Claire Armes said the motivation to provide body worn video - or BWV - “has always been for evidential reasons”.

“BWV will provide our officers and staff with vital technology. It is there to keep both the public and our officers safe,” she said.

“As well as bringing greater transparency to our policing activity, there are a number of operational benefits.

“The immediate capturing of vital evidence to support swift investigations and increased conviction rates, particularly in the case of domestic abuse.”

The video will help provide unbiased accounts that can lead to quicker and fairer administration of justice, she added.

Dorset’s police and crime commissioner Martyn Underhill said: “I welcome the roll-out of BWV across the force.

“It gives officers an increased ability to gather evidence and provide a factual record of what an officer has experienced.

“BWV is not only an invaluable addition to our officers’ kit, it fulfils one of my commitments to the people of Dorset to improve technology and infrastructure for the force.’’

Last year, police admitted their equipment has “lagged behind the technology almost everyone has in their pockets”.

The cameras were initially issued for 270 firearms officers across the three counties in May 2017.

All footage recorded will be uploaded to secure servers when officers return to their stations.Video not retained as evidence or for a policing purpose is automatically deleted within 31 days.