Police in Bexley, Bromley and Lewisham are to start wearing cameras on their uniforms as part of a new trial scheme.

Five hundred of the devices will be distributed to officers in seven other London boroughs as part of plans to both raise conviction rates and monitor officers’ conduct.

The pilot scheme will be implemented over the next few weeks in response to criticism of the Met over the shooting of Mark Duggan in Tottenham which sparked the London riots in August 2011.

The cameras will capture evidence at crime scenes and firearm officers will also use them in training.

Met commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said: "Our experience of using cameras already shows that people are more likely to plead guilty when they know we have captured the incident.

“That speeds up justice, puts offenders behind bars more quickly and protects potential victims.

"Video captures events in a way that can't be represented on paper in the same detail and it has been shown the mere presence of this type of video can often defuse potentially violent situations without the need for force to be used.

“I believe it will also show our officers at their best, dealing with difficult and dangerous situations every day but it will also provide clearer evidence when it's been alleged that we got things wrong.

"That has to be in both our own and the public's interest."

The video above shows police dealing with a GBH incident. A person involved in a stabbing admits to the offence. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Have you been in a situation with police where you think cameras would have helped? Call us on 01689 885702 or e-mail tim.macfarlan@london.newsquest.co.uk