Pub landlord hails use of body-mounted video cameras for cutting complaints against doorstaff

Jon Cowell, of the Feathers bar and club in Rushden, trialled the cameras for three months from September after being approached
by East Northamptonshire Council’s safer community team, led by Police Sergeant Kevin Byrne.

The trial of the cameras was introduced as part of Northamptonshire Police’s effort to cut violent crime across the county by 5% last year.

The cameras, which sit on door supervisors’ shoulders, were provided to the Feathers bar by police, and Cowell is delighted with the impact they have had.

“The impact here has been dramatic — it has reduced the number of incidents down to next to nothing,” said Cowell.

“The police weren’t suggesting we had more problems than anywhere else but wanted to see what the impact would be.”

Cowell added: “If the police asked for these cameras back I would definitely go and buy some because we couldn’t be without them.

“The protection they give to the staff, door supervisors and the customers coming in speaks for itself.

“We spoke to the supervisors before we trialled the cameras and they were more than happy to try it because if you remove somebody from a licensed premises there are always allegations, and the cameras totally eradicate any allegations against any doorstaff.

“They (videos) can prove that reasonable force has been used, they save having to interview both parties (to the incident), and save police a lot of time.”

Sgt Byrne, of Northamptonshire Police, said: “In the first three months we had three false allegations against doorstaff disproved, and have issued one drink banning order. We have footage of a very violent male who came into the pub and we were able to prosecute as a result of that evidence.

“The ‘bodycams’ give doorstaff a certain amount of safety when it comes to hostile situations, and provide us with evidence when incidents occur.”