The use of body worn cameras by school crossing patrols is to be considered by county councillors in Hertfordshire, on Friday.

There have been suggestions that rolling out the cameras across the county would ensure drivers comply with stop requests – as well as reducing any possible intimidation.

On Friday a meeting of the county council's highways and environment cabinet panel will consider the issue, in response to a Liberal Democrat motion initially put to a previous council meeting.

At the meeting councillors will be asked to back a recommendation to cabinet that the trial continues, in order to collect more "meaningful data".

And they will be asked to recommend that the data is then reviewed in the summer (2021), 'to consider whether a wider roll out is proportionate and warranted'.

And highways bosses – who point to the suspension of school crossing patrol service during the two lockdowns – say the results of the current trial have been "inconclusive".

Overall in the county last year (2020) there were 16 'incidents' – which can be 'drive throughs' or reports of verbal abuse – reported from 150 crossing patrol sites. And there were 15 in 2019.

It is estimated that the cost of issuing every school crossing patrol with a body cam would be around £105,000.

Reporting on the progress of the trial, the report to the cabinet panel says the use of the camera made the 'patrol' "feel safe".

But it said she was also concerned that it may upset members of the public or change the relationship she had with parents and children.

The report also suggests feedback from other crossing patrols is "not conclusive" – with some welcoming the move and others expressing concerns that it would change their relationships with parents and children.

Body worn cameras can already be issued in an 'emergency' in Hertfordshire, says the report, at sites reporting 'fail to stop' incidents or verbal abuse.