A TINY, spy-like camera is the latest hi-tech weapon to fight crime on our streets.

Police on the beat will be equipped with military-style “body cams” — lightweight, miniature video cameras clipped to uniforms, helmets or vehicles — to record evidence during incidents.

The Sunday Telegraph can reveal the NSW government will rollout the body worn video cameras to frontline police at a cost of $4 million.

NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Alan Clarke said the availability of footage of an incident would benefit police giving evidence in court.

The cameras were also likely to act as a deterrent to crime as offenders will be aware their actions were being filmed, he said.

“Something which seems quite insignificant at the time can escalate in a matter of seconds. This is when the camera is most beneficial to officers,” he said.

media_camera 21st century cop: How NSW officers will be kitted out.

media_camera Ready for a close-up: All police are soon to wear body video cameras which are inside the radio unit.

“A picture is worth a thousand words and with these devices if you play up, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to watch your video replay in court.”

“The devices also had a positive impact on behaviour. We found once someone was aware they were being recorded, their behaviour changed — in some cases, it helped defuse aggressive situations.”

The body cameras, which are also being adopted in the UK and the US, will add to the growing arsenal of hi-tech equipment used by police.

While the final model will be determined after the tender process, body worn videos on the market range from vest-based models to those which can be moved around to a helmet, motorbike handlebar or car.

The videos already in use across the world have been used to obtain evidence during car chases and riots.

media_camera An officer is pictured with a taser, another weapon used in the war on crime.

Teh cameras were trialled across four commands, including the Public Order and Riot Squad, South West Metro Regional Enforcement Squad, Brisbane Water Local Area Command and the Northern Sector of the Police Transport Command.

Mr Clarke said the trials showed the cameras had a positive impact on police behaviour with many reporting they behaved more professionally with the public with the knowledge they were being recorded.

The adoption of body worn camera technology comes as the Government ramps up its rollout of Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology.

The technology enables numbers plates to be scanned at a rate of six per second, with the ID details of a car and driver flashed on a police computer screen before anyone can leave a car.

Police and Emergency Services Minister Stuart Ayres said an extra $7 million would be directed towards the rollout.

“Those police officers who already use this technology know of its benefits,” he said.

“This information also lets officers know if precautionary action is necessary before they approach a vehicle.

“For example, if the vehicle may have been used in connection with a drive-by shooting, then there may be firearms on board and police need to take extra safety measures before approaching it.”