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16 FEBRUARY/MARCH 2017 www.vanguardcanada.com
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Body-Worn Cameras:
Not Seeing the Forest for the Technology?
F
or many Canadian law enforcement organizations, get-
ting their feet wet with the technology through pilot pro-
grams couldn't have happened fast enough. With several
high profile incidents regarding officers' use of force set-
ting off public outcry and civil rights concerns in recent years, it
may be a step in the right direction.
However, several organizations have been pulling back after
their pilots, mostly due to cost, but some organizations have ex-
pressed uncertainty about how much body-worn cameras help
with officer interactions with the public — and whether it will im-
prove the behaviours of either in all situations. Recently Ottawa
Police Services announced they will be launching a body-worn
camera pilot project to put the purported merits of the individual-
ly worn devices to the test. Although the department announced
they will roll out the project in 2017 to increase transparency and
accountability, it is rumoured it may be a bit longer than that
before the pilot comes to fruition.
But are Canadian law enforcement organizations — and the
public — ready for the challenges that come with the technology?
Are their expectations realistic? Looking back at early body-worn
camera programs, such as the pilot with Devon and Cornwall Po-
lice (UK), the operational focus was on improving evidentiary
elements and preserving victim first-disclosure evidence. Now,
current trends for use fall to transparency and posterity with the
aim to reduce public complaints, inappropriate behaviours by law
enforcement and the public, and as a possible diffusion tool to
reduce use of force. Once these hurdles have been addressed, it
is assumed that future use would target the enhancement of in-
by valerie Findlay
