RCMP officers will begin wearing body cameras every shift in some communities across Canada starting next week.
The roll-out will be phased in, with 86 detachments included in the first round.
By this time next year, 90 per cent of all officers in our country will have them as part of their uniform.
“Body-worn cameras can help build trust between the police and the community because the video evidence collected provides an independent, unbiased, and objective way to capture interactions,” says Chief Superintendent Dan Morrow, Officer in Charge of Criminal Operations for the Nova Scotia RCMP. “They will also improve evidence collection and help resolve public complaints more quickly.”
The body cams will be worn over the officers chest while audio and video from their shifts will be uploaded and maintained on a digital evidence management system.
They have to be on and recording during traffic stops and public interaction. That includes when working on ongoing crimes and investigations, mental health calls and protest response.
“We welcome the use of body-warn cameras in the Province,” says Cpl. Hans Ouellette of the New Brunswick RCMP. “We live and work in a fast-paced, modernized environment, and the addition of this investigative tool is another positive step forward in showing our commitment to accountability and transparency to the communities we serve.”
Detachments in Nova Scotia, Nunavut and Alberta already have already been using them as part of testing.
The federal government is spending $240 million over six years as part of the launch.
