POLICE will have a new weapon against crime from today when officers wearing mini cameras will hit the streets.

The tiny but powerful cameras, mounted in officers' hats, will mean suspects' behaviour can be filmed at any time, and used in court as evidence.

Lancashire police have launched the scheme, funded by £140,000 from the Home Office and Government Office North West, after a successful pilot in Plymouth.

After a six-month pilot in Blackburn and Blackpool it is hoped that the scheme will be rolled out across the county.

Five of the cameras, which cost £1,000 each and also record sound, are available to 20 officers in Blackburn police's response team and its two town centre officers.

They will be used for high-risk callouts.

If police feel the need to switch on the camera, they must tell the suspect what they are doing, and posters will be put up in any area where police are routinely using head cameras.

The cameras link to a power pack in the chest pocket and a belt-mounted screen. If the lead from the power pack to the headcam is pulled out, a secondary camera in the chest unit will kick in.

As the scheme progresses, officers are also hoping to use the cameras, remotely linked to a live control room, to monitor football matches and other large events.

They could also link them to a number plate register to give officers live information about insurance, tax and MOT on vehicles, and even whether they are used by a known criminal. The cameras could also be used for covert surveillance.

As well as giving police solid evidence against late-night offenders in the town centre, the cameras are also expected to be very effective in domestic violence cases. Violent partners in Plymouth have been convicted through evidence from the cameras, even when the victim has been too frightened to give a formal statement.

The scheme is also expected to mean more bobbies on the beat, as video evidence can be submitted without a full written statement from the officer, meaning less time in the station writing up paperwork.

Inspector Mick Laraway, of Blackburn police, said: "Financial implications at the moment mean not every officer can have them, but the prices are likely to come down.

"They make a big difference - often the suspect will calm down and back down, knowing full well that the evidence is being captured."

PC Mike Smith, who has used the cameras in test runs, added: "It works very well and it's easy to use - when people see it they want to come over and have a look, which gets you talking to the community.

"People, especially the elderly, are very reassured by it because they see the police there, see the camera and know we are taking action."