POLICE officers across Britain could be issued with miniature cameras attached to their helmets to help gather evidence of crimes without the need for written statements or lengthy court appearances. The devices enable officers to confront offenders with their crimes by replaying footage to them on the spot. In pilot schemes, offenders have proved far more likely to plead guilty or accept on-the-spot fines or cautions than contest their cases in court. The Home Office plans a national trial of the cameras using hundreds of officers to assess whether they can increase conviction rates, and they could become standard kit for every police force. They may also help cut crime by, for example, deterring thugs from fighting when there is an officer nearby. At least 12 offenders have been punished using evidence recorded by the camera known as the Cylon body-worn surveillance system since it became available for individual forces to test last December. The crimes recorded range...