Vicious squatter who smashed open a policeman's head when he pushed him over is brought to justice because he was caught on bodycam
- The footage shows squatter Robert Byles, 44, push over PC Steve Ozden
- PC Steve Ozden was sent flying to the ground and smashed his head open
- New Body Worn Video caught the incident meaning Byles pleaded guilty
- He was sentenced to two weeks' imprisonment, suspended for 12 months
A vicious thug who smashed open a policeman's head when he pushed him over has been brought to justice because he was caught on a bodycamera.
Footage shows squatter Robert Byles, 44, shove PC Steve Ozden when the officer tried to evict him from a bank in Lewisham, south east London.
PC Ozden was sent flying to the ground and was rushed to hospital with injuries to his neck, back and head.
A vicious thug who smashed open a policeman's head when he pushed him over has been brought to justice because he was caught on a bodycamera
But his newly-issued bodycamera caught the incident meaning Byles had little choice but to plead guilty to bodily harm on a police officer.
Byles was sentenced to 12 weeks' imprisonment - suspended for 12 months - and fined £115 in compensation at South East London Magistrates' Court last month.
More than 7,000 Metropolitan Police officers now wear bodycameras and this week the kit will be issued to 600 more.
In the next few months cameras will be issued to units including the Marine Policing Unit, Dog Support Unit, Mounted Branch and the Automated Number Place Recognition units.
They will also be given to officers on front-line specialist roles, including overt firearms officers.
Chief Superintendent Craig Haslam, the Met's Taskforce lead, said: 'The introduction of Body Worn Video for colleagues working in the Taskforce is great news. Trials show the footage helps us present clear evidence and secure convictions at court.
'Equipping Territorial Support Group officers with this technology will also show their outstanding professional conduct whilst operating in often dangerous and high intensity situations.
Footage shows squatter Robert Byles, 44, shove PC Steve Ozden when the officer tried to evict him from a bank in Lewisham, south east London
PC Ozden was sent flying to the ground and was rushed to hospital with injuries to his neck, back and head
'I believe this will be a positive step in enhancing public confidence in the Taskforce and wider Met.
The police say the cameras have proved particularly successful in domestic abuse cases where there has been an increase in early guilty pleas from offenders who know their actions have been recorded.
All recorded footage is automatically uploaded to secure servers but video not retained as evidence or for a policing purpose is automatically deleted within 31 days.
Anyone filmed can request to see footage of themselves by writing within 31 days.
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