UK Army may use James Bond-style spy camera

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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics...and-police.html

UK Army may use James Bond-style spy camera
British soldiers and anti-terrorist police may soon be using a new James Bond-style spy camera hidden in a gadget the size of a cricket ball.


Last Updated: 9:26AM GMT 24 Feb 2009

The ball can be thrown at enemy suspects and will then send back pictures of their movements using wireless technology, the Daily Mirror said.

It was first successfully used by Israeli forces during the Gaza conflict last month.

Defence and police chiefs in Britain are considering adopting the camera for use in their surveillance operations.

A military source told the Daily Mirror: "This has apparently been used to great effect by Israeli forces against Hamas in Gaza. It could well be used by our forces when they come across an enemy in built-up areas.

"British forces are constantly looking at ways in which they can improve their chances against an increasingly sophisticated urban guerrilla in the war against terror."

The £800 device is officially named Eye Ball R1 and contains a mechanical camera with a 360 degree view.

It records sound and images up to 25 yards away and beams them back to a computer. It can also see in the dark, the Daily Mirror said.

The ball was invented in the US for counter terror squads. Its maker, Remington, said the Eye Ball R1 offers "higher degrees of visibility" behind enemy lines.

According to the company it could be used in dynamic high-risk entry operations including room clearing and stairwell clearing, and in search and rescue operations.