Body-worn cameras being trialled by Tassie Special Operations Group in the fight against crime
TINY, vest-mounted video cameras which are helping police fight crime across Australia and around the world could soon be coming to the beat in Tasmania.
Tasmania Police have confirmed the latest in Body-Worn Camera (BWC) technology has been trialled in the state by the Special Operations Group for the past 12 months, in various training scenarios.
A police spokeswoman said BWC provided SOG officers with opportunities to enhance training, operational effectiveness and evidence-gathering in the specialist tactical environment.
“Several models have been tested — operational usability and robustness are important attributes — and the practical trial is expected to be completed in the short term,” the spokeswoman said.
Tasmania Police Deputy Commissioner Scott Tilyard said the force would also monitor trials of body-worn video in other jurisdictions before making a decision on the technology’s introduction.
NSW Police earlier this year announced a $4 million rollout of BWC hardware to frontline officers, with the state’s assistant commissioner saying footage from the cameras would prove an invaluable tool for evidence.
Victoria Police also is testing the technology after Chief Commissioner Ken Lay signed off on a three-month trial which began last month.
Overseas 500 body cameras were introduced to Metropolitan Police in 10 London boroughs earlier this year, with officers obliged to keep footage on file for a month unless it is required as evidence.
Upon its inception four moths ago, the pilot scheme was hailed by London police chief Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe for its ability to “speed up justice.
“Our experience of using cameras already shows that people are more likely to plead guilty when they know we have captured the incident,’’ he said.
The adoption of BWC also was recently announced by police in Washington DC, who will wear a combination of collar and glasses-mounted technologies, and by Toronto police in Canada.
The trial of body-worn video in Tasmania is nearing completion and a police spokeswoman said its adoption depended on a number of factors.
“A range of policy, legal and operational deployment and management issues
need to be considered before any recommendations are made regarding future use,” she said.
