ALL frontline police officers will get body-worn video cameras after Hampshire Constabulary received a £1.1million funding boost.

The money, handed out by the Home Office for innovative projects, will fund five separate initiatives after a bid was made by Simon Hayes, police and crime commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Part of the money will go towards supplying all uniformed officers with body-worn cameras, building on a an evidence-gathering pilot project on the Isle of Wight in March last year.

The other projects are to build a centre to share back-office functions with other organisations, to establish bases for Safer Neighbourhood Teams, to improve digital files for the Crown Prosecution Service, and to improve mobile data provision for officers.

There was also a joint bid with Thames Valley Police to improve contact with members of the public, which was successful.

Chief Constable Andy Marsh said: “I am extremely pleased that we have been awarded £1.1m from the £20m available to be bid for by police forces in England and Wales.

“The amount is clear recognition of our force’s growing reputation for innovation and improving policing through maximising the use of modern technology.”