A CANDID camera operation allowing people to send films of bad drivers to police and a recruitment drive for new officers have been announced to a council meeting.

Filmmakers could be encouraged to send in videos of rogue motorists and unsafe driving under the potential Durham Police scheme.

Assistant chief officer Gary Ridley said: “We are looking at introducing something called Operation Snap, which is the ability for the public to send in camera footage taken from their cars of what they may consider to be inappropriate driving, for the police to look at that.”

North Yorkshire Police, which already runs such a scheme, says it is “to educate and prosecute drivers using footage supplied by the public”, with videos reviewed by officers and offending drivers prosecuted or sent to an improvement course.

Measures like Operation Snap, and more bobbies and call handlers, were discussed to justify a rise in the policing precept - which people pay as part of their council tax.

Durham Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Joy Allen said: “We want to invest in front line.

“We’re just starting a recruitment today for new police officers. That’s a real challenge for us to get those police recruited and on the street.”

She said she wanted to know more from the public about where they want money to be spent in budgets, among “just short of 200 priorities” in the new Police and Crime Plan.

This is part of a consultation for the next two weeks on the proposed precept rise of £10 per year for Band D homes - the maximum possible increase without a local referendum.

Councillor Jake Miller had asked: “The headline is there is an increase in the precept. What are people getting for that increase?”

Mr Ridley said: “The intention in the current financial year will be to invest in additional call handlers who improve 999/101 performance.

“Part of the increase is just to stand still. We are seeing, along with all other public sector organisations, significant cost increases, primarily arising out of inflation. The force is having to put significant sums into paying for gas and electric, insurance costs and ICT costs. These are costs which have not been reflected in the government grant.”

He added some of the money would cover the “essential and unavoidable cost” of a hike in employers’ National Insurance.

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