Parking attendants in Bolton are to be issued with state of the art head-mounted video cameras to help improve the service they provide and deter assaults.

A total of 17 of the units, sourced from NCP Services, will be deployed in the city from mid April, enough for every PA to be fitted with one when they are on patrol.

The units are being issued in order to improve the quality of evidence gathered by PAs when they are on duty as well as to act as a deterrent to assaults.

In Salford, where the same technology has been piloted, the numbers of incidents on-street involving either threats or actual violence against PAs has fallen by 30%.

The units will be issued from mid April.

James Pritchard, Communications Manager for NCP Services said, 'We welcome the fact that Bolton Council has decided to provide this equipment for our colleagues. It has already in a very short time be proven to cut assaults and intimidation of PAs and we are certain it will have the same impact in Bolton.

'This is a technology which we can see many other councils looking at because of the improved evidence it can provide for parking enforcement as well as for the reassurance it gives to PAs.'

Further information: James Pritchard, 07793 697 409.