by PC Dave Brook
Chapeltown Community Cycle Unit
West Yorkshire Police (UK)

As a serving U.K police officer, I regularly sit back and watch with admiration the exploits of American patrol officers caught up in high-speed, all-action pursuits, brought to our television screens courtesy of high-tech cameras.

Not only does in make for good viewing, it also assists with the successful conviction of many offenders whose actions are caught on camera. Keen to expand on the benefits of the latter, I sought to implement this capability on my own police bicycle.

I was aware that cameras had recently been fitted to cycle helmets and used for evidence-gathering, but those cameras offered only limited vision with an 8-12 mm lens. I wanted digital capability with a larger focus, night vision, and sound.

I approached Vision 2000 Leeds LTD, an established local company at the cutting edge of technology. They sought to develop a prototype surveillance camera specifically designed to meet my requirements - and the needs of a cycle patrol officer.

The result was magnificent, far exceeding my expectations. Vision 2000 presented me with a night vision CCD camera mounted to the handlebars, controlled by an easy-to-use lank switch, supported by a Sony Mini DV camcorder, a microphone and pre-amp, all housed in a rear top bag.

Technical jargon? Maybe. But this system really did meet my requirements. It provided me with instant recording capabilities for both vision and sound, all of which could be digitally enhanced. The night vision is superb. It is unbelievable how easily offenders can be identified. Already the system is proving its worth.

Local Councillors have been so impressed that they are now providing funds to fit more cameras to our bikes. We hope that soon every cycle in our livery will be fitted with one.

Perhaps you could soon will be sitting back in your chair, watching me in hot pursuit, albeit a little slower.

I hope to demonstrate this system at the third annual 999 Emergency Services Cycling Seminar, June 25-26, 2005, in York. And if Fairy Godmothers exist, perhaps at the IPMBA Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona, as well. "I believe."

To view the system, visit www.vision-2000.co.uk, and to learn more about it, e-mail me at akita@shikomu.freeserve.co.uk.

Dave has been the driving force behind the Chapeltown Divisional Cycle Unit in West Yorkshire, U.K. He was certified as an IPMBA Police Cyclist in November 2003 and hopes to attend the IPMBA Instructor Course in 2005. He can be reached at akita@shikomu.freeserve.co.uk.

© 2005 IPMBA. This review appeared in the Winter 2005 issue of IPMBA News.