Police agencies in British Columbia say the introduction of body cameras will improve transparency and lead to more timely resolution of complaints against officers.
The B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police and representatives from several departments gathered at RCMP headquarters in Surrey, B.C., on Thursday to tout the introduction of the cameras, soon to be worn by thousands of officers in the province and across Canada.
The association formed a committee in 2021, which was mandated 香蕉视频直播渢o identify best practices by ensuring consistency and standard operating procedures, policies, disclosure procedures and communications,香蕉视频直播� said Deputy Chief Anita Furlan with the Metro Vancouver Transit Police.
She said police expect the technology to improve interactions with the public and help resolve complaints more quickly.
Furlan, a vice-president with the B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police, said video evidence is valuable in court proceedings because it 香蕉视频直播渟hows exactly what is occurring.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淎 key principle for the committee was to ensure that using body-worn cameras balance the rights of the individual with the (use) of the technology,香蕉视频直播� she said.
The committee was also tasked with identifying 香蕉视频直播渟tandard operating procedures香蕉视频直播� for the use of body cameras, and consult with other agencies 香蕉视频直播渨hose work will be impacted香蕉视频直播� by their introduction, the association said in a news release.
Evidence collected by the devices will be used not only by police, but also the BC Prosecution Service, which determines if charges will be laid, and by the Independent Investigations Office and the Office of the Police Complaints Commissioner, both police watchdog agencies.
Chief Supt. Holly Turton of the RCMP said the force has used body cameras in a 香蕉视频直播渓imited capacity香蕉视频直播� since 2010, and between 10,000 and 15,000 body cameras are set to be deployed across Canada after field testing in Alberta and elsewhere.
Turton said the committee sought to 香蕉视频直播減romote a collaborative approach among police agencies香蕉视频直播� about body camera implementation.
香蕉视频直播淥ur intent was to ensure a seamless approach across the province with the understanding that this would also benefit the public and decision makers,香蕉视频直播� Turton said.
Supt. Howard Tran with the Vancouver Police Department said introducing body cameras is 香蕉视频直播渓ong overdue,香蕉视频直播� as communities have changed their expectations of police at a time of 香蕉视频直播渆merging public safety challenges.香蕉视频直播�
Dozens of VPD officers are already wearing body cameras under a pilot program launched last week.
Sgt. Jim Ingram, the Delta Police Department香蕉视频直播檚 body-worn camera co-ordinator, said the decision to turn on cameras is up to an officer香蕉视频直播檚 discretion if they decide a recording could have 香蕉视频直播渆videntiary value.香蕉视频直播�
Ingram said policing standards, though, require cameras to be turned on 香蕉视频直播渋f there is a potential for use of force or violent or aggressive behaviour is anticipated or displayed.香蕉视频直播�
He said the cameras 香蕉视频直播渁ssist in de-escalating香蕉视频直播� potentially volatile situations, and video evidence of an event is superior to handwritten notes.
He said the cameras are an 香蕉视频直播渁dditional tool香蕉视频直播� officers can use to defuse tense situations as people behave differently when they know they香蕉视频直播檙e being recorded.
香蕉视频直播淲hen there香蕉视频直播檚 a camera turned on, I香蕉视频直播檇 say that everybody has a little bit of a psychological switch that flips,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚 think that香蕉视频直播檚 just human nature.香蕉视频直播�
The Delta Police Department has been using the cameras for about two years, and currently 21 are in operation with 16 more to be introduced this year.
At an unrelated news conference Thursday, Premier David Eby said the police cameras help provide valuable evidence and ensure accountability.
香蕉视频直播淲hen police are conducting themselves in public, with all the authorities and powers that they have, when they are doing it on camera it香蕉视频直播檚 reassurance to the public that they香蕉视频直播檙e doing it in as professional a way as possible,香蕉视频直播� Eby said, adding the body-worn cameras have advantages for police and the public.
香蕉视频直播淐ertainly, I香蕉视频直播檓 supportive.香蕉视频直播�
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