The Multimedia Suite consists of two video technicians based in the Corporate Learning and Development Department providing a video production support service to the constabulary.

The suite consists of a three camera TV studio with lighting rig, and three non-linear AVID editing suites for the creation of In House productions. These use Avid Media Composer editing software and are linked with a state of the art Avid Unity network storage system.

The technicians get involved in projects at whatever stage is required, which could be from the initial ideas and scripting, to the final edit.

Projects include:

• Operational briefing and record of events
• Training videos for new schemes and devices to be used within the force
• Training and conference 'feeders'
• Public relation videos to inform the public, or introduce an initiative to possible sponsors
• Final duplication of such items to disc, tape, or computer based media.

Additional video work:

• Editing of child interview recordings for investigating officers from transcript notes where judges and counsel have made requests for sections to be omitted. Similarly tapes of vulnerable victims/witnesses are undertaken
• Copying videos for Accident Investigation Units, utilising slow motion and overlay of timings etc
• Preparing CCTV footage for use in local news broadcasts for Corporate Communications or the Internet Office, obscuring the faces of those not involved in the incident
• Editing a mosaic over specific faces in covertly recorded tapes for court use, or where reflections may jeopardise the identity of officers when shown
• Copying, where able, of computer based CCTV footage to dvd or more recognisable computer file for evidential replay by officers or court
• Recording of presentations, allowing them to be viewed by people who are unable to attend the main presentation, or when the audience is larger than the venue allows.

Work undertaken for Corporate Learning and Development:

• Maintaining the audio visual equipment in the classrooms, and that belonging to the district trainers, as well as maintaining the working of the Lecture Theatre equipment. Organise repairs as and when defects are reported
• Oversee the piped audio/visual CCTV system in the training school, and the operation of the cameras and control units in the four interview rooms and classrooms
• Provide a variety of audiovisual presentation and recording equipment for use by staff and outside speakers within the Training School, and relevant instructions on the use of this equipment
• Recording of Police related Television programmes for possible use in Training and/or School's Liaison work, in accordance with the Educational Recording Act Licence negotiated by the Home Office for Police training establishments.

In addition

• Recording of local early evening news, with subsequent compiling of items with Avon and Somerset Constabulary spokespersons
• Providing equipment for the use of members of the constabulary who have been asked to give a presentation to an outside organisation, eg amplification
• Operating and maintain the Force ID Card Computer and hardware, including back-ups, and deletion of old records
• Provision of TV and Radio Training facilities provided for the Corporate Communications Department and others when required
• Advising and researching into video related issues. This has included advising the Connecting Communities multi-agency project on the commissioning of a video, liaising between departments and companies on the HYDRA training system and new digital technology
• Copying of video and audio based material for trainers and other departments to enable distribution to a wider audience. For example news reports for incident rooms, programmes about investigations such as the Westbury-on-Trym bomb plot and the Joanna Yeates murder case, and copies for disclosure to defence representatives
• Creating multiple copies of DVDs up to approximately 100 duplicates
• Maintain a database of policing related TV recordings in a Video Library for use by officers, staff and students.