A £1 MILLION investment is going to be spent on handing police officers across Worcestershire body cameras.

West Mercia's police and crime commissioner John Campion has confirmed the major investment by insisting it will be a key tactic for keeping coppers safe.

In October this newspaper first revealed how Mr Campion was considering spending a significant sum on the body-worn cameras.

It follows a successful roll-out by the Metropolitan Police which means 2,000 of their front-line officers now routinely wear them.

The spending is a joint venture with Warwickshire under their 'alliance' agreement, with West Mercia Police stumping up 69 per cent of the bill.

Mr Campion said: "I promised our communities I would reform and modernise their police service to ensure better efficiency, effectiveness and value for money.

"This investment demonstrates how I'm delivering on that.

"By making sure our police have the tools they need to do their difficult jobs to the best of their abilities, it will make much better use of their time and resources all round.

"This technology is also about reassuring our communities and giving them confidence.

"The cameras provide clarity and evidence about what has happened at incidents involving the police, which I know will also be beneficial for officers."

He also said recent visits to other forces to see the cameras in action had convinced him of the investment.

“I have seen first hand the benefits these cameras have, and have led the push for their introduction," he added.

"I'm pleased to have reached this milestone and will continue to hold the chief constable to account to ensure the cameras are introduced on time, on budget and then used appropriately across the force."

The roll-out will kick in next year, with firearms officers and police who carry Tasers the first to get them.

They will then be dished out across the rest of the force until all officers have them visible.

Research earlier this year from Cambridge University revealed a 93 per cent drop in complaints when cameras were introduced, with wrongdoers far less likely to claim they were mistreated.

The cameras are also believed to help prevent crime by diffusing hostile situations, and have an impact on how people behave once arrested.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission has said it supports body-worn cameras as "an effective tool" in reducing crime.