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WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS BY DEPUTY M.R. HIGGINS OF ST. HELIER
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 24TH MAY 2016
Question
Will the Minister advise members how many operational officers have been equipped with body-worn cameras and explain in detail the policy for their use, and in particular, whether are they activated for the entire shift or only when officers go out on patrol, and whether officers have any discretion on their activation? Will she also explain whether footage from body-worn cameras is able to be provided for use in court?
Answer
Uniformed Operational Officers of the States of Jersey Police have access to approximately 30 Body Worn Video (BWV) cameras. Provided there are sufficient camera's available, all uniform operational officers must ensure that they take possession of a BWV camera at the start of their tour of duty. The BWV devices are not personal issue items. In the event that one is not utilised, then the officer must record and justify the reasons for not carrying one in their Pocket Note Book. The use of BWV by specialist departments is the decision of the Senior Investigating Officer on a case by case basis.
BWV are not activated for entire periods of duty, some of the reasons for which are:
The size of the data collated would be huge, whereby needing costly storage systems.
It would be difficult to search for and abstract relevant sections of footage for evidential means
from large captures.
The collateral intrusion would be significant due to capturing both evidential and non-evidential
interactions wherever the officer went.
Constant capture does not consider the right of individuals to a private and family life (Article 8
ECHR).
There is no operational need to maintain constant BWV recording for entire periods of duty. The
device is an operational tool and is used at the officer's discretion, albeit with strong operational policy and guidance surrounding their use.
When used effectively, BWV can promote public reassurance, capture best evidence, modify behaviour, prevent harm and deter people from committing crime and anti-social behaviour. The footage is often played in Court. Recordings will provide independent evidence that will improve the quality of prosecution cases and may reduce the reliance on victim evidence particularly those who may be vulnerable or reluctant to attend court.
A comprehensive policy underpins the use of the cameras and can be found here - www.jersey.police.uk/accessing-information/body-worn-video/. All police officers, and particularly those who regularly use BWV, are fully aware of the policy and its contents. In order to use BWV, officers receive training in all necessary technical aspects of the equipment. The training package includes:
- Legal implications
- Practical use issues
- Evidential continuity
- Health and safety
- Diversity issues
- Professional standards