Caught on camera - 'Cops with Cams' project starts in Chonburi

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Caught on camera - "Cops with Cams" project starts in Chonburi
Thaivisa Reporters


Image: Thairath

CHONBURI:-- Forget Robocop here come the GoPro cops! Some thirty police on patrol and traffic duties in Sattahip, Chonburi are being fitted with helmet cams.

The project "Cops with cams" was presented in front of the Sattahip station yesterday in a move that top brass say will help not just with evidence gathering but improving the relationship between the boys in brown and the public.

While some looked a little self conscious in the promotional pictures the local police chief was upbeat about the project. Methawit Praditpol said that the cameras will help police do their job better and inspire confidence in the force with the public.

The cameras can be linked to mobile phones and computers in evidence gathering. They should improve police efficiency, protecting both the public and police from false accusations and unsubstantiated complaints.

Methawit said:"This project will encourage good cops and help to promote a good image of the smiling policeman with the public at large. It will help us in many aspects of our work."


-- 2016-04-07

[ezzra]

will this camera have a on/off button when "private negotiations" between the cop and drive occurs?......

[Carl64]

They dont look too happy. They will actually have to do some work now.

[RigPig]

They have mounted the cams in the wrong place!! How are they going to take selfies while riding around on the beat??

[AlQaholic]

Couldn't they find bigger cameras?

Ohh! wait, the company selling the cameras is someones Uncle or brother.....now I get it!

Edited April 7, 2016 by AlQaholic

[dieseldave1951]

they are not happy about this just read what expression is on there faces

[KhunBENQ]

Couldn't they find bigger cameras?

Ohh! wait, the company selling the cameras is someones Uncle or brother.....now I get it!

A quick and cheap solution.

Of course it's not new.

Some police offices in Germany introduced "body cams".

A bit more "discrete"

[jmccarty]

Those cameras are really not designed for mounting on a helmet. Poor chaps! The German alternative looks more the part.

Good idea in theory! Keep interaction with the public in black and white (or colour) if possible.

[WhizBang]

And the battery life is... ?

Do not think I would worry to much about it with those cameras. Either the battery will die quickly or there is an easily accessable on/off button, or both.

[NongKhaiKid]

Now they'll be able to go back to the station and re-live their patrol watching the computer screen as they ignore traffic lights, drive the wrong way down a one way soi and of course ride along the footpath plus so much more

[uptoyoumyfriend]

they will soon be forgotten,disappear,being sold..... like all else...

[thhMan]

I am guessing there will be a lot of cameras getting "lost" and a lot of cameras being "sold" at markets.

It looks like a GoPro and depending on the settings, wont really make it for a day...

However, if its only used when they are actively working as Police, then they have enough battery and more to spare...

If they switch it off during "an exchange with a client/customer", then the battery is probably good for a few days....

[Flex2791]

Another half baked idea. The battery life on a GoPro is less than one hour while taking videos. They are designed for shooting short, high adrenaline sports videos. Not an 8 hour police shift on the beat.

[LennyW]

I had to look twice at the headline, i thought it would be more likely to be Cops On Camera !

[WhizBang]

I am guessing there will be a lot of cameras getting "lost" and a lot of cameras being "sold" at markets.

It looks like a GoPro and depending on the settings, wont really make it for a day...

However, if its only used when they are actively working as Police, then they have enough battery and more to spare...

If they switch it off during "an exchange with a client/customer", then the battery is probably good for a few days....

Actually, not true. Battery life is pathetic on GoPro, unless they are using an external batterpack, which is NOT evident in the photo above.

[Basil B]

will this camera have a on/off button when "private negotiations" between the cop and drive occurs?......

Presume they are the copy version of the popular mini cam that is made in China that sells on Ebay for less than £30 (1500B/$45), they will almost certainly have a reliability issues.

They come with so much hardware the the BiB will happy spending time over the next few weeks experimenting with all the mounting options, thought the waterproof housing will come in useful for Songkran...

[steveyinasia]

More money wasted on a stupid idea that was half baked, I am sure there are better uses for the money but then again, how would the organisers get their cut.

[canopus1969]

Now I'm going to have to take my police helmet back to the market stall I bought it from so I can have a camera fitted

[alocacoc]

They dont look too happy. They will actually have to do some work now.

At least one of them. They they share their footage's.

[chickenslegs]

I am guessing there will be a lot of cameras getting "lost" and a lot of cameras being "sold" at markets.

It looks like a GoPro and depending on the settings, wont really make it for a day...

However, if its only used when they are actively working as Police, then they have enough battery and more to spare...

If they switch it off during "an exchange with a client/customer", then the battery is probably good for a few days....

Actually, not true. Battery life is pathetic on GoPro, unless they are using an external batterpack, which is NOT evident in the photo above.

The batteries are pictured here...

Edited April 7, 2016 by chickenslegs

[Rorri]

Impractical, how will the cops keep their head still. Also, just how are they mounted, if screwed on they would be dangerous in a mild accident.

[inzman]

I was more impressed that the cops in the photo op actually wore helmets! Don't see that often.

[OttoPollmann]

Now those cameras are legal to use on Thai roads?

Last year I’ve read a report that someone got fined for using such a camera.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/859443-ticket-for-helmet-cam/

[Khon Kaen Dave]

They look absolutely ridiculous,you can see by the plods face in the picture,he aint happy.I bet his wife fell about when he walked through the door with that thing on his head. "Hey dad,take a pic of us,right a bit,no left a bit."

[Ulic]

I have yet to meet a police officer on the front line that wanted to wear a camera. They

would rather what they say be taken as gospel truth.