City of Cape Town traffic and law enforcement officers could soon be equipped with miniature video cameras to record alleged law-breakers across the city.

Mayco member for Safety JP Smith told the Cape Argus on Tuesday they were looking at several types of camera.

First would be vehicle-mounted cameras on patrol cars and Ghost Squad vehicles – both digital cameras mounted on windscreens, and more hi-tech cameras, which could “recognise” number plates.

The tender was under way for these types of camera.

Smith said officers would also in future wear miniature personal video cameras, which clipped on to breast pockets.

Smith explained: “They are already in use by the parking marshals in the city centre, as well as elsewhere in the world.

“We are looking at these for certain types of staff – for example, those who are conducting a raid. They will allow officers to record everything they see. They will also record audio.”

Smith said the cameras would serve many purposes. First, they would “protect” officers from unfounded allegations made by those they were arresting – which Smith said occurred regularly.

“All sorts of lies are told, which completely distort the facts. So these cameras will be helpful for the officials, especially when under stressful circumstances.

“It can lower the temperature, because people all know that there will be material available that could be viewed in court. It suddenly puts everyone on their best behaviour,” Smith said.

“It’s never the intention to do surveillance on people. This is to record official duties being carried out.”

Smith said he hoped the vehicle-mounted cameras would be installed by early next year, but gave no time frame for the personal cameras. - Cape Argus