Police on patrol in the West Midlands are roadtesting cameras in their cycle helmets to capture crimes on film.

Officers on bicycles in Birmingham will record evidence of street crimes on the small head-mounted closed circuit television cameras during the trial period.

They hope the new technology will prevent street crime and burglary.

The equipment will be tested on patrols around the streets of Handsworth and Lozells over the next few weeks.

Cycle patrols will record street crime

Police hope to be able to identify criminals by using video footage from the cameras.

"It's going to make the gathering of evidence a lot easier," said PC Graeme Faithorn.

"It'll hopefully eliminate some of the anti-social behaviour that goes on, whether it's small criminal damage or burglary.

"The video footage from the camera is good quality and could be used as evidence in court against an offender.

"We hope this equipment is one way of us outsmarting criminals," he said.

The bikes cost �2,500 each with �2,000 for the cameras and �700 for the special uniforms, making a total of more than �5,000 per officer.