The Met Police is currently trialling the use of body worn cameras.
A recent* survey of emergency services professionals in the police and paramedic services, conducted on behalf of The Emergency Services Show (NEC, 24-25 September 2014) has shown strong approval of the use of body worn video cameras and a belief that they offer tangible benefits both to users and to the public.
92{b782e6485bad54f4d4eef610261c499b39e6ceae36370d8b5dbb547d38ca2d22} of police officers said they were in favour of body worn cameras being used by police officers across the UK. Among paramedics, 72{b782e6485bad54f4d4eef610261c499b39e6ceae36370d8b5dbb547d38ca2d22} were in favour of their colleagues nationally wearing cameras and 92{b782e6485bad54f4d4eef610261c499b39e6ceae36370d8b5dbb547d38ca2d22} were in favour of the police wearing them. Of those questioned, a little over a half (56{b782e6485bad54f4d4eef610261c499b39e6ceae36370d8b5dbb547d38ca2d22}) of police and a quarter of paramedics (25{b782e6485bad54f4d4eef610261c499b39e6ceae36370d8b5dbb547d38ca2d22}) also said they had already had personal experience in using a body worn camera.
More than two-thirds (68{b782e6485bad54f4d4eef610261c499b39e6ceae36370d8b5dbb547d38ca2d22}) of police officers agreed or strongly agreed that body worn cameras made them feel safer while doing their job. At the same time they thought they gave the public greater confidence in the police (72{b782e6485bad54f4d4eef610261c499b39e6ceae36370d8b5dbb547d38ca2d22} agreed or strongly agreed with this). Six in 10 (61{b782e6485bad54f4d4eef610261c499b39e6ceae36370d8b5dbb547d38ca2d22}) thought body worn video cameras will speed up the justice process. They were a little less convinced that wearing cameras would diffuse potentially violent situations though (44{b782e6485bad54f4d4eef610261c499b39e6ceae36370d8b5dbb547d38ca2d22} said they would, but 26{b782e6485bad54f4d4eef610261c499b39e6ceae36370d8b5dbb547d38ca2d22} said they wouldn’t).
72{b782e6485bad54f4d4eef610261c499b39e6ceae36370d8b5dbb547d38ca2d22} of paramedics also thought cameras would be useful in their work, although their reasons were slightly different. Police officers cited the independent evidence gathering provided by video as a key benefit and the potential for resolving ‘his word against mine’ situations. They also liked the ability to record the arrest of violent offenders and disorder.
Paramedics saw benefit in video for recording violent patients, or patients who refused treatment as well as saying they offered a form of protection to paramedics working on their own. They also saw the potential to relay information from the field to doctors, helping to speed up diagnosis and potentially life saving treatment.
Emergency services professionals were not unduly concerned about the potential invasion of privacy from cameras. 80{b782e6485bad54f4d4eef610261c499b39e6ceae36370d8b5dbb547d38ca2d22} of both police officers and paramedics said they didn’t think they were an invasion of their privacy at work, while 81{b782e6485bad54f4d4eef610261c499b39e6ceae36370d8b5dbb547d38ca2d22} of police and 74{b782e6485bad54f4d4eef610261c499b39e6ceae36370d8b5dbb547d38ca2d22} of paramedics didn’t think they were an invasion of the public’s privacy either.
Two-thirds police officers didn’t believe there was potential for cameras to be misused, although a third thought they could be. However, more than half (53{b782e6485bad54f4d4eef610261c499b39e6ceae36370d8b5dbb547d38ca2d22}) of paramedics were concerned about the potential misuse of cameras. 70{b782e6485bad54f4d4eef610261c499b39e6ceae36370d8b5dbb547d38ca2d22} of police and 74{b782e6485bad54f4d4eef610261c499b39e6ceae36370d8b5dbb547d38ca2d22} of paramedics didn’t believe wearing a camera would hinder them in their work in any way.
“The advancement of technology has allowed Body Worn Video (BWV) to become a realistic proposition for use within the police and other emergency services,” said Sergeant Stuart Murrell, Metropolitan Police. “BWV greatly assists across a broad spectrum from conviction through to complaint reduction and incident management. BWV is a cost effective independent witness providing a speedier judicial process and peace of mind for the wearer.”
Stuart Murrell is Territorial Policing Lead at the Metropolitan Police and will speak on The Role of Body Worn Video in the Police and its Potential Uses for Other Services at 10.30am on 24 September at the Innovation Theatre at The Emergency Services Show.
The Emergency Services Show, taking place at the NEC from 24-25 September is aimed at anybody involved in emergency response and recovery, including all blue light services, voluntary workers and service providers. Now in its ninth year, the annual event attracts buyers and specifiers of emergency equipment, training, services and solutions. Entry, which is free, gives visitors access to over 400 exhibiting companies and organisations, as well as workshops, seminars, live rescue demonstrations and opportunities to progress career development.
Companies launching or displaying body-worn video and head cameras at this year’s Emergency Services Show include: Edesix, Excelerate Technology, Handheld UK, Niton Equipment, Pinnacle Response, Reveal Media and Vodafone.
You can register for The Emergency Services Show online.
* The survey was completed by 516 emergency services professionals who were previous attendees of The Emergency Services Show and/or readers of Emergency Services Times and undertaken in June 2014.
