NSW Police ask public to be cameraphone cops

NSW Police Minister, David Campbell, has revealed details of a new project encouraging citizens to capture video and photographic evidence of crimes on their phones and upload it securely over the Web to law enforcement agencies.

"The initiative -- expected to cost around AU$8 million -- is currently being developed under the working title of Project View (Video Image Evidence on the Web), and was conceived in the wake of the 2005 Cronulla riots and London bombings, after cameraphone footage capturing the events was used extensively in the investigations of both incidents.

... "The community is one of our greatest resources when it comes to solving crime. This role has increased with the development of mobile phone cameras and sites such as YouTube," said Police Minister Campbell.

"Footage of a bashing, a sexual assault or car hoon activities might be found online or captured on a video phone… if the location, offender or victim in these alleged crimes can be identified police will be able to follow up on the matter."

emily | 5:12 PM | Citizens as Camera Phone Reporters |
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