Police Scotland's £13m Step Into the 21st Century Will Put Truth of Many Incidents Beyond Doubt

Thank goodness Police Scotland have been given the money to equip all its frontline officers with body-worn cameras. It will bring us into line with the rest of the UK and finally drag us into the 21st century.

Body cameras are as essential to modern policing as a notebook and pencil were to my early years, and they will save us a fortune. These cameras are simple to use and tamper-proof. They are activated by the officer on the approach to any incident and provide high-quality film of what transpires. The rollout of this equipment is long overdue — its need rightly recognised by former Lord Advocate Eilish Angelini in her review of the handling of police complaints.

These cameras will hopefully bring a welcome balance and objectivity. Now that most people have video phones, we seem to have spawned a new breed of bystander. Instead of lending a hand, they delight in filming incidents they come across before selectively editing and plastering the film on social media. Now at least there will be a record of events, filmed as it happened and without the selective editing.

Body cameras will surely improve the behaviour of the wearer and most rational members of the public. Just as the cameras may identify police wrongdoing, they will also protect police from vexatious complaints.

Consider if, in 2015, police in Kirkcaldy had been equipped with body cameras. We would have had a much better view of what really happened when the tragic Sheku Bayoh was arrested. We could have judged the conduct of the officers who attended and perhaps gained an understanding of just how desperate and violent such incidents can become.

Police body cameras are spend-to-save items. They can't come soon enough.