Police officers in Waltham Forest will take to the streets this week wearing body cameras after the official launch of the technology in the borough.

Body Worn Video (BWV) is being issued to around 480 frontline Met police officers and PCSOs from today (Monday, July 24).

Additional cameras are also being made available for other specialist departments operating in the borough.

Following a series of trials, more than 900 BWV cameras were given to officers in east London across Redbridge, Havering and Barking and Dagenham boroughs in March this year.

Officers will be issued with the technology in Waltham Forest as part of the scheme, which will see some 22,000 officers given cameras before the end of 2017.

Chief Inspector Lisa Butterfield, Waltham Forest's Body Worn Video Lead, said: “BWV will be an invaluable piece of equipment for front line officers and investigators.

“The cameras will capture compelling first hand images to back up officers’ evidence in court. It has been proven in trials to increase conviction rates and help the courts give more informed sentencing.

"From an officers point of view the cameras help to reduce confrontation and complaints against officers as well as helping to demonstrate the professionalism we all expect.

"The equipment and accompanying software is secure and all downloaded data will be handled in a strict, professional manner.

"We all welcome the introduction of this equipment and hope that it provides community reassurance that we are working hard to keep Waltham Forest safe."

The Met says the cameras have proved successful in domestic abuse cases, where it has seen an increase in earlier guilty pleas from offenders who know their actions have been recorded.

It also hopes BWV will offer “greater transparency” for members of the public dealing with the police, as their interactions with the force will now be recorded.

Any video not retained as evidence or for a policing purpose is automatically deleted within 31 days.

However, anti-surveillance campaigners, No CCTV, has previously questioned the move, citing a Cambridge University study suggesting attacks on police officers are 15 per cent higher when they are wearing cameras.

The group has also claimed the move represents a “continuing robotisation” of police officers.