Slowly but surely police agencies across BC will be introducing body cameras for its front line members to use out in the field.
That’s from the BC Association of the Chiefs of Police as various police agencies across the province will introduce cameras at various times.
However, Prince George Mounties will likely have to wait until 2025 to utilize body cameras out in the field.
The Delta Police Department was the first detachment to expand it to front-line services last year and Deputy Chief Harj Sidhu told MyPGNow.com the added tool has de-escalated many interactions between police and the public.
“When people know that they are being recorded their behaviour does get modified and changed. And it’s for both sides, this includes the officer as well – but it’s also the public, we have seen examples in our traffic enforcement violator contact situations.”
“It is a tool, it is not the panacea that will solve everything, it doesn’t provide the context of perception of what the officer may be thinking but it does provide more enhanced awareness on what may have occurred.
RCMP Chief Superintendent Holly Turton noted body cameras have already shown to be a valuable tool
“The other benefit to body-worn cameras is that they provide best practice with the best evidence when we have to go to court or when we present evidence in other avenues such as incidents involving the Independent Investigations Office when there has been an event involving an officer.”
Turton added the new technology will add an extra layer of transparency between the public and police as a way to rebuild public trust – something that has eroded in recent years due to several incidents being recorded by bystanders across North America, which has often led to protests and social media backlash.
“The climate changed a number of years ago when people wanted to make sure that policing was more transparent and they wanted to be able to have more confidence in police departments in general. As you rightfully say, it is around some of the incidents that occurred in other jurisdictions in North America and I think police departments in general, not just the RCMP, feel it is important to maintain trust with the public and for them to trust police and be confident in us. If this technology is going to enhance that, then we are 100% behind it.”
The Vancouver Police Department is the latest outfit to use body cameras.
Across the RCMP, a second field test is set to begin in Alberta, Nova Scotia, and Nunavut – once that is completed, an assessment will be conducted and the procurement process will continue.
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