A recent survey of emergency services people in the police and paramedic services, on behalf of the Emergency Services Show (at the Birmingham NEC, on September 24 and 25) has shown strong approval of the use of body worn video cameras and a belief that they offer tangible benefits to users and to the public.
More than nine in ten, 92pc of police officers said they were in favour of body worn cameras being used by police officers across the UK. Among paramedics, 72pc were in favour of their colleagues nationally wearing cameras and 92pc were in favour of the police wearing them. Of those questioned, a little over a half (56pc) of police and a quarter of paramedics (25pc) also said they had already had personal experience in using a body-worn camera.
More than two-thirds (68pc) of police officers agreed or strongly agreed that body worn cameras made them feel safer while doing their job. At the same time they thought they gave the public greater confidence in the police (72pc agreed or strongly agreed with this). Six in ten (61pc) thought body worn video cameras will speed up the justice process. They were a little less convinced about the worth of cameras in potentially violent situations though (44pc said they would calm things, but 26pc said they wouldn’t).
Some seven in ten, 72pc of paramedics also thought cameras would be useful in their work, although their reasons were slightly different. Police officers cited the independent evidence gathering provided by video as a key benefit and the potential for resolving “his word against mine” situations. They also liked the ability to record the arrest of violent offenders and disorder.
Paramedics saw benefit in video for recording violent patients, or patients who refused treatment as well as saying they offered a form of protection to paramedics working on their own. They also saw the potential to relay information from the field to doctors, helping to speed up diagnosis and potentially life-saving treatment.
Emergency services people were not unduly concerned about the potential invasion of privacy from cameras. Four in five, 80pc of both police officers and paramedics said they didn’t think they were an invasion of their privacy at work, while 81pc of police and 74pc of paramedics didn’t think they were an invasion of the public’s privacy either.
Two-thirds police officers didn’t believe there was potential for cameras to be misused, although a third thought they could be. However, more than half (53pc) of paramedics were concerned about the potential misuse of cameras. Seven in ten, 70pc of police and 74pc of paramedics didn’t believe wearing a camera would hinder them in their work in any way.
Metropolitan Police Sgt Stuart Murrell said: “The advancement of technology has allowed Body Worn Video (BWV) to become a realistic proposition for use within the police and other emergency services. BWV greatly assists across a broad spectrum from conviction through to complaint reduction and incident management. BWV is a cost effective independent witness providing a speedier judicial process and peace of mind for the wearer.”
Stuart Murrell is Territorial Policing Lead at the Metropolitan Police and will speak on The Role of Body Worn Video in the Police and its Potential Uses for Other Services at 10.30am on day one, Wednesday, September 24, at the Innovation Theatre at The Emergency Services Show.
About The Emergency Services Show
At the NEC on September 24 and 25, it’s aimed at anybody involved in emergency response and recovery, including all blue light services, voluntary workers and service providers. Now in its ninth year, the annual event attracts buyers and specifiers of emergency equipment, training, services and solutions. Entry, which is free, gives visitors access to 400 exhibiting companies and organisations, as well as workshops, seminars and live rescue demonstrations.
Companies launching or displaying body-worn video and head cameras at this year’s show include: Reveal Media, Communicare, Edesix, Excelerate Technology, Handheld UK, Niton Equipment, Pinnacle Response and Vodafone. Visit www.emergencyuk.com
Pictured: RS3-SX body worn camera from Reveal Media who are on Stand P38 at The Emergency Services Show.
