POLICE community support officers (PCSOs) in Witney have been issued with new head cameras when they go out on the beat.

PCSOs were yesterday given their first go with the £1,000 mini video cameras which it is hoped will also cut drink-fuelled crime as well as record anti-social behaviour.

Chief Inspector Dennis Evernden, area commander, said: "In terms of moderating people's behaviour they are better than CCTV cameras.

"We have been quite stunned by some of the verbal abuse PCSOs say they get and the way they have been spoken to and hopefully this will stop that.

"The idea is to give them to PCSOs more than police officers. If a police officer received a similar level of abuse from someone that person could be arrested for a public order offence, but now we will be able to record the crime and come knocking on the offender's door."

Neighbourhood manager Sergeant Scott Evans said: "The headcams will initially be used by the Witney team to reduce alcohol-related crime and disorder and reduce aggressive behaviour towards our PCSOs. It's surprising how much a person's behaviour improves once they see a camera."

The roll-out of the cameras, which can be clipped to a hat or helmet, follows a successful trial in Witney in May last year.

The cameras, which unlike CCTV pick up audio footage, will now be used by police officers and PCSOs on daily daytime and nighttime patrols in the town.

Thames Valley Police communications officer, Toby Shergold, said: "PCSOs get quite a hard rap and they put themselves in vulnerable positions without the kit a police officer has to deal with them so this is a way of beefing up their armoury so if something happens they have immediate evidence.

"The cameras also work very effectively in tackling domestic violence as officers can attend an incident and record the blood, hurt, and tears and then use that evidence in court."

PCSO Tracy Waller said: "It is early days for us yet but we hope it will deter people from treating us antisocially.

"We are hoping it will help us tackle antisocial behaviour and we are looking forward to gathering more evidence on crimes as we go about our duties."

If the two cameras funded by the West Oxfordshire Community Safety Partnership prove successful a further five could be bought for the West Oxfordshire towns of Carterton, Eynsham, Woodstock and Chipping Norton.