FRIDAY night revellers can look forward to safer nights out thanks to a novel piece of police spy kit.
Bromsgrove force used their new close circuit television (CCTV) van for the first time on Friday night.
(PL:d00975.jpg:CATCHING OUT CRIME: Sgt Ian Joseph inside the new crime fighting van)
The new Mercedes Sprinter, kitted out with the latest hi-tech equipment to catch criminals on camera, patrols Bromsgrove and Redditch.
Sergeant Ian Joseph helped set up Operation Impact: "The van will allow a great deal of flexibility and can reach parts of the two towns that the current CCTV systems do not reach," he said.
The van is equipped with two CCTV cameras, microphones and computer systems so police can record what is being seen.
It will have a large floodlight on the top of the van to illuminate a night crime scene. Also, carrying signs for accidents and major incidents, it can be used 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Impact
"We believe the van will have a big impact on reducing the level of disorder and violent crime in the two town centres on Friday and Saturday nights,"said Sgt Joseph.
"It will also be used extensively in the run up to Christmas in order to prevent street crime and reassure the community," he added.
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