NEXT time you’re caught short on the streets of Bromley, think twice. You could be starring in candid camera – 21st century style.

Bromley wardens are the first in the capital to be armed with head cams to frame revellers who drop litter and urinate in the street.

Enviro-crime officers will now be able to catch anti-social offenders red-handed during late-night patrols of Bromley High Street.

They already have the power to slap drinkers with parking ticket-style fines if they foul the streets, but pioneering technology means there is now no escape.

The actions of litterbugs and those who use the street as a toilet are now recorded on a small computer by cameras attached to their baseball caps.

And the footage of persistent offenders who refuse to cooperate is stored on a database and passed on to police.

Enviro-crime officer Dave Killon said: “You get a few that moan about it and say there are better things you should be doing, but lots of people have come up to us and said they think we’re doing a really good job.”

The early success of the scheme in Bromley means that other boroughs may follow suit.

Colleague Ray Turner said: “You get people who are a bit annoyed that they have been caught, but in their heart of hearts, 90 per cent of them say fair enough and hold their hands up.

“It is very easy to say 'it wasn’t me’, but if they are recorded on camera then there is no real argument.”

Mr Turner added: “Loads of people are guilty of chucking rubbish, but it is still a minority. If everybody did it, we would have a massive problem.”

FACT FILE

* Offenders can be given £70 fixed-penalty fines, which are halved if paid within 10 days

* Sometimes, officers will explain the offence and just give a warning – but they will not be so lenient second time round

On the streets during closing time, the enviro-crime officers are protected by police back-up, CCTV operators, radios, stab vests and slash-proof gloves.

But while they are prepared for the worst, they can often resolve a situation by explaining to someone what they have done wrong.

Sometimes they are faced with people dropping chewing gum, cigarettes and take-away boxes.

Mr Killon said: “There is one offence that crops up most often. It is mainly lads coming out from the pub and weeing up against shop fronts.”