Officers patrolling the Thames in south east London and North kent have been issued with body-worn video.

The Marine Policing Unit deal with the public and have now been given the equipment police across London have been using.

The unit police 47 miles of the River Thames from Hampton Court to Dartford and 250 miles of canals and waterways, lakes and reservoirs and other bodies of water in London.

Inspector Chris Green, from the unit, said: "We have four response teams and respond to a wide variety of crime and public order matters including pub fights and disorder on party boats on the Thames.

"We also carry out counter-terrorism security patrols on a daily basis as well as assisting armed colleagues who might need operational access to the water.

"One of the areas we cover that is unique to the river is search and rescue. The MPU, in conjunction with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, rescue dozens of people from the river every year as well as, sadly, recovering bodies.

"Body Worn Video will help in all areas of our work, providing an indisputable record of events and ensuring transparency and accountability in the unique marine environment."

The cameras have the potential to bring justice for victims by increasing the opportunities for obtaining early guilty pleas because offenders know their actions have been recorded.

Inspector James Ellis, who leads the body worn video project team, said: "Body Worn Video is an important addition to the equipment we provide to our officers; it is an invaluable tool to combat crime and one that will make policing safer and support both officers and the public."