RESIDENTS are being encouraged to upload footage in a bid to help the police fight crime.

CCTV can be uploaded through a new system to help officers gather the evidence needed to catch criminals faster.

Hampshire Police are now calling on businesses and residents to register their cameras onto a secure system called N.I.C.E Investigate.

Once firms are registered, it allows officers to request the footage to be uploaded to them, rather than their previous method of trying to upload CCTV onto a physical disc.

The system aims to make local communities become safer places for businesses and members of the public.

A spokesperson for Hampshire Police said: "Hampshire Constabulary has recognised the existence of the 21st century, apparently we are in it now. With such a momentous occasion, we have decided to bring our CCTV collation into the new century.

"Rather than relying on floppy disks or new-fangled ‘compact discs’ or ‘universal serial bus stick’, we are asking you to upload footage to our secure cloud. With this in mind we are asking for businesses in the area to register their cameras so that we can have an idea of what cameras we have and where in case we need to ask for any footage."

Residents can also upload any CCTV footage if they have a private system or 'Ring' doorbell installed.

The police spokesperson added: "As we are using the information for the detection and prevention of crime, we are allowed to collate and store the information. The information is kept secure, never made public and only other police forces will have access to the camera locations."

Footage can be uploaded for free by emailing NICEDEMSSUPPORT@hampshire.pnn.police.uk and informing the team you would like to register your business and cameras.

Hampshire Constabulary will then contact participants with a link to register.