VOA常速英语2007-British Police Use Extra Eye to Fight Crime

By Catherine Drew
Northamptonshire, Britain
04 October 2007

Police in Britain have added a new high tech aid to their crime fighting tools.  It is a miniature digital camera designed to be worn on a police officer's head.  The "Robocam," as it is known, allows officers to have their hands free to deal with offenders¹, while recording² evidence against them.  Catherine Drew joined a police patrol to see the new technology in action for today's Searching for Solutions report.

It sees whatever they see. The tiny camera mounted above the ear is like a third eye for a police officer, but one with a major advantage.

It records whatever the police officer looks at straight onto a portable hard drive, and can be played back instantly.

Police say the cameras prove invaluable³ in recording the scene of a dispute or police raid.

Sergeant⁴ Mark Worthington of Northamptonshire Police says, "We use it in the nighttime economy when we're policing our town centers, pubs and clubs. We can use it for incidents of domestic violence to record the scene when we get there.  And we can use it for anti-social behavior when we're dealing⁵ with issues of youths on the street."

Police Constable⁶ Mumnoon Ahmad says he has noticed people react to him differently when he wears it.

"For example when they went to a fair a lot of juveniles⁷ there, all messing around all of a sudden they saw the police. Okay, they calmed down but they did carry on to a degree. But when it became obvious their behavior was being recorded with this head cam, it was amazing the transformation⁸."

After evaluating several pilot projects, the British Home Office will provide police with an extra $6 million to fund a national rollout of the head camera technology.

The resulting video can be shaky, but the Home Office says it has led to an increase in successful prosecutions⁹.

And in a country with the highest density¹⁰ of close circuit television cameras in the world, where the average Briton is recorded up to 300 times a day, privacy advocates worry that even more surveillance will infringe¹¹ upon personal liberties. They question where and for how long the footage will be kept. 

However, a couple of citizens at a shopping mall provided their thoughts. "It's a valid¹² argument that it's a bit 'Big Brotherish.' However, if you're a law-abiding citizen, why should you worry?" "I think it's a necessary thing. Very handy for later on in court appearances, et cetera and time saving and the evidence is there for all to be seen."

Whatever privacy concerns may exist, the successful trial of the headcams means they are likely to become a common sight.

1 offenders   

n.冒犯者( offender的名词复数 )；犯规者；罪犯；妨害…的人（或事物）

参考例句：

• Long prison sentences can be a very effective deterrent for offenders. 判处长期徒刑可对违法者起到强有力的威慑作用。
• Purposeful work is an important part of the regime for young offenders. 使从事有意义的劳动是管理少年犯的重要方法。

2 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

3 invaluable   

adj.无价的，非常宝贵的，极为贵重的

参考例句：

• A computer would have been invaluable for this job.一台计算机对这个工作的作用会是无法估计的。
• This information was invaluable to him.这个消息对他来说是非常宝贵的。

4 sergeant   

n.警官，中士

参考例句：

• His elder brother is a sergeant.他哥哥是个警官。
• How many stripes are there on the sleeve of a sergeant?陆军中士的袖子上有多少条纹？

5 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

6 constable   

n.(英国)警察，警官

参考例句：

• The constable conducted the suspect to the police station.警官把嫌疑犯带到派出所。
• The constable kept his temper,and would not be provoked.那警察压制着自己的怒气，不肯冒起火来。

7 juveniles   

n.青少年( juvenile的名词复数 )；扮演少年角色的演员；未成年人

参考例句：

• Do you think that punishment for violent crimes should be the same for juveniles and adults? 你对暴力犯罪的惩罚对于青少年和成人应一样吗？ 来自生活英语口语25天快训
• Juveniles Should we not exactly in need of such strength and conviction? 少年的我们难道不正是需要这种力量和信念吗？ 来自互联网

8 transformation   

n.变化；改造；转变

参考例句：

• Going to college brought about a dramatic transformation in her outlook.上大学使她的观念发生了巨大的变化。
• He was struggling to make the transformation from single man to responsible husband.他正在努力使自己由单身汉变为可靠的丈夫。

9 prosecutions   

起诉( prosecution的名词复数 )； 原告； 实施； 从事

参考例句：

• It is the duty of the Attorney-General to institute prosecutions. 检察总长负责提起公诉。
• Since World War II, the government has been active in its antitrust prosecutions. 第二次世界大战以来，政府积极地进行着反对托拉斯的检举活动。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件

10 density   

n.密集，密度，浓度

参考例句：

• The population density of that country is 685 per square mile.那个国家的人口密度为每平方英里685人。
• The region has a very high population density.该地区的人口密度很高。

11 infringe   

v.违反，触犯，侵害

参考例句：

• The jury ruled that he had infringed no rules.陪审团裁决他没有违反任何规定。
• He occasionally infringe the law by parking near a junction.他因偶尔将车停放在交叉口附近而违反规定。

12 valid   

adj.有确实根据的；有效的；正当的，合法的

参考例句：

• His claim to own the house is valid.他主张对此屋的所有权有效。
• Do you have valid reasons for your absence?你的缺席有正当理由吗？