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Police Scotland’s national roll out of body worn video is now underway, with the first officers in Tayside equipped with the new cameras this week. Over the coming weeks, around 750 Tayside officers, including road policing teams and dog handlers, will receive the devices.
As the roll out continues, more than 10,500 Motorola Solutions VB400 cameras will be issued to frontline officers from constable to inspector ranks, as well as police custody staff, across Scotland. Chief Constable Jo Farrell, who took command in October 2023, has made this roll out a priority.
The introduction of body worn video is expected to de-escalate incidents, strengthen public trust in policing and reduce complaints. It will also improve officer and staff safety while bringing wider benefits to the criminal justice system. By enhancing the quality of evidence presented in court, the technology should lead to faster justice, increasing early guilty pleas and reducing the time victims, witnesses and officers spend in court.
Over the next 18 months, officers using body worn video will become a familiar sight across Scotland, from cities to rural areas, on roads, in hospitals, schools and anywhere else officers carry out their duties.
“Body worn video can significantly enhance public confidence and support officer and public safety by providing effective and transparent evidence of police and public interactions. The technology will also improve the quality of evidence presented in court to deliver faster justice for victims by increasing early guilty pleas and reducing time spent at court for victims, witnesses and police officers.
“There is strong public and partner support for body worn video in Scotland and we will continue to explain our use of this important technology including assurance around data privacy and human rights considerations.”
Jo Farrell, Chief Constable, Police Scotland.
A national consultation received more than 9,000 responses, with 81% agreeing that body-worn video would increase confidence in policing. The roll out also follows a key recommendation from Lady Elish Angiolini’s independent review of police complaints.
All frontline uniformed officers, including Special Constables, will be required to wear and activate the cameras when using police powers, such as stop and search, making arrests or executing warrants. Police custody staff will also use cameras when interacting with detainees.
Video footage will be uploaded to secure police systems and shared with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) through the new Digital Evidence Sharing Capability (DESC) system. While the footage may be used as evidence, it will not replace existing procedures for gathering information and its use will remain subject to case-by-case review by the COPFS.
“Our Motorola Solutions body cameras are both designed and assembled in Scotland and we’re proud of our close collaboration with Police Scotland in this important nationwide deployment.
“The new levels of insight and awareness captured by officers’ video footage will help enable greater policing efficiencies and public safety outcomes. We look forward to continuing our collaboration and innovation for all Scotland’s communities.”
Fergus Mayne, UK and Ireland Country Manager, Motorola Solutions.
The roll out will reach the Highlands, Islands and North East in summer 2025, before expanding to the east of the country in the autumn.
The introduction of body worn video is not intended to change policing deployment models or increase single-officer patrols. Instead, it aims to provide greater transparency, accountability and safety for both officers and the public.
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