gripit
25-06-2009, 04:39 PM
Sigh...
Smile, you're on police cam
Times ColonistJune 25, 2009
Freeze, punk. And smile, too -- because you're on a not-so-candid camera. Some Victoria police officers will start using "body-worn" video cameras next week. The force will be the first in North America to use the cameras, which record both video and audio and can be attached to sunglasses or helmets.
If experience in England is any indication, more forces on this continent will soon be scrambling to catch up with Victoria.
The cameras help the police as well as the people being recorded, because they provide an accurate account of what is taking place. They can also help to curb rowdy behaviour, because everyone knows that the evidence might end up being shown in court.
The cameras were first used in a test by police in Plymouth, England, from October 2006 to April 2007. In that time, public complaints about police dropped by 14 per cent, with none recorded against officers wearing cameras. Officers were able to cut their paperwork time by 22 per cent and time spent on patrol increased by nine per cent.
Based on the success of the Plymouth trial, the cameras were quickly adopted by forces through the United Kingdom. They have helped increase the number of guilty pleas, which has reduced delays for other court trials.
The reason for the success of the cameras is simple: They make it more difficult for people to argue that they were innocent.
Victoria officers will tell people when the cameras are on. Some camera models also have red lights to make that obvious, but here's another clue: If you're doing something stupid in front of an officer with a camera, there is a good chance you're being recorded.
The images will be downloaded when officers return to the station. Recordings can only be deleted on the desktop system at the station.
In Victoria, the units will be worn by two bike-patrol officers, two beat-patrol officers and two traffic officers, who will use them in conjunction with car-mounted video cameras.
They will be given a trial by fire during the Canada Day festivities next week.
If the cameras help there -- and we are confident they will -- there should be no doubt about their lasting value in Greater Victoria.
© Copyright (c) The Victoria Times Colonist
http://www.timescolonist.com/Smile+police/1730690/story.html
Smile, you're on police cam
Times ColonistJune 25, 2009
Freeze, punk. And smile, too -- because you're on a not-so-candid camera. Some Victoria police officers will start using "body-worn" video cameras next week. The force will be the first in North America to use the cameras, which record both video and audio and can be attached to sunglasses or helmets.
If experience in England is any indication, more forces on this continent will soon be scrambling to catch up with Victoria.
The cameras help the police as well as the people being recorded, because they provide an accurate account of what is taking place. They can also help to curb rowdy behaviour, because everyone knows that the evidence might end up being shown in court.
The cameras were first used in a test by police in Plymouth, England, from October 2006 to April 2007. In that time, public complaints about police dropped by 14 per cent, with none recorded against officers wearing cameras. Officers were able to cut their paperwork time by 22 per cent and time spent on patrol increased by nine per cent.
Based on the success of the Plymouth trial, the cameras were quickly adopted by forces through the United Kingdom. They have helped increase the number of guilty pleas, which has reduced delays for other court trials.
The reason for the success of the cameras is simple: They make it more difficult for people to argue that they were innocent.
Victoria officers will tell people when the cameras are on. Some camera models also have red lights to make that obvious, but here's another clue: If you're doing something stupid in front of an officer with a camera, there is a good chance you're being recorded.
The images will be downloaded when officers return to the station. Recordings can only be deleted on the desktop system at the station.
In Victoria, the units will be worn by two bike-patrol officers, two beat-patrol officers and two traffic officers, who will use them in conjunction with car-mounted video cameras.
They will be given a trial by fire during the Canada Day festivities next week.
If the cameras help there -- and we are confident they will -- there should be no doubt about their lasting value in Greater Victoria.
© Copyright (c) The Victoria Times Colonist
http://www.timescolonist.com/Smile+police/1730690/story.html