POLICE officers in Britain have a clear goal – to reduce crime. But they cannot do it alone. To successfully address the problems in our communities, the police need the support and trust of the public.

Every one of us has a primal duty to protect our neighbours and keep risk and threat at bay. The good news is that supporting the work of the police has become that much easier as technology has advanced.

Across the UK, public generated dashcam or other camera footage has helped convict countless dangerous drivers and a multitude of other serious offences. It’s also providing extra protection for drivers, horse riders and cyclists, even reducing insurance premiums.

There are economic benefits too. Publicly uploaded footage is saving thousands of hours of officer time in gathering evidence and collecting witness statements. It has also brought to light offences that might otherwise never have come to police attention including driving while using a phone, close passes and jumping of lights.

Horrific dashcam footage revealed the moment an HGV driver careered into two cars and a motorway barrier on the A1 at Bowburn, claiming the lives of three innocent motorists. The evidence was a crucial factor in the conviction of Romanian-born Ion Onut, 41, from Galashiels, who was trawling the internet on his phone at the time of the crash. He was jailed for three counts of causing death by dangerous driving.

This type of footage also provided the crucial breakthrough police needed to solve the Sarah Everard murder. CCTV from a passing bus captured her standing next to a white car, a rental vehicle that was traced back to police officer Wayne Couzens. CCTV, meanwhile, helped officers piece together her final movements. 

Police forces across the UK are estimated to receive more than 35 dashcam clips every day and 80 per cent of the evidence uploaded is actionable. This means reckless driving is much more likely to lead to a fine or a court summons than previously. The possibilities for solving crime are endless although the primary goal for such footage is always to make our roads and journeys safer for all road users and to reduce fatalities and serious injuries.

With the rise in motorists investing in dash and helmet cams, the opportunity to catch law breakers will only grow. I’m working hard to link in with cycling clubs, stables and motorbike clubs to promote take up.

We’re already starting to see the huge potential of camera technology with video doorbells. Safer Streets funding of Ring doorbells across Ferryhill and Peterlee is already proving fruitful with footage obtained from one installation used to prosecute three youths for causing damage and harassment.

On my own estate, neighbours’ CCTV footage has helped to identify ‘hit and run’ drivers who’ve caused damage to vehicles, someone fleeing after being held captive, dogs fouling, milk thieves, suspicious activity and lost dogs. As this new technology is more affordable than it once was and easy to install, I believe it’s a great time to revive previously lapsed Neighbourhood Watch Schemes.

Reconnecting the public and the police is important to me. As a former Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator myself, I want to empower citizens to take an active role in their communities and see their neighbourhoods as an extension of themselves and their families.

This is what is already being achieved with Rural Watch across rural areas of the county. Technology is removing many of the barriers to ensure people can make a positive difference to law enforcement and actively ‘police’ their communities. For the remainder of my term, I will continue to encourage citizens who live with the consequences of crime to make a difference and become the eyes and the ears of the law in any way they can.

The Northern Echo: Durham Police and Crime Commissioner, Joy Allen

Joy Allen is the Labour Police and Crime Commissioner for Durham and Darlington