Police consider options for adopting body cameras
A French police officer wearing a body-worn camera standing guard during a French minister's visit to a public school in Paris on 16 January 2024.
Photo:
AFP
The police union says officers getting body cameras for the first time will counter people doctoring phone footage of interactions.
The police are looking at options to adopt body cameras after grappling with the pros and cons for at least five years.
NZ Police Association president Chris Cahill said the cams would provide a "true picture" of what has gone on.
As things stood, officers were getting filmed anyway by the public on their smartphones, but he was aware of some of that footage being doctored to make the interaction look bad.
"I think generally they should tell the true picture of what's gone on and that's why our members are positive about them.
"I think it's a question that has sort of been kicked down the road for too long in New Zealand and we're sort of the outliers around the world."
The big question was not around the benefits, but how much storing all the camera footage would cost.
"I mean, you've got the cost of actually buying the cameras, which, you know, we'd straight away say shouldn't come out of current budgets."
That would mean something else had to be given away, he said.
"But equally, the long-term issue is data storage and how much that costs.
"I'm aware of some smaller police services around the world who have pulled the cameras because they simply can't pay that cost."
Vancouver Police Department
initially struggled with the costs but last year expanded its bodycam programme.
In the US, it is reported some police departments have so much footage they are
turning to AI to sift through it
.
Police Minister Mark Mitchell told ZB the government was a big fan of technology to help frontline police, and he personally liked bodycams.
"The use of body-worn cameras is an operational decision for the Commissioner," Mitchell said in a statement to RNZ.
"As he has signalled, police is exploring options around the potential use of body cameras, and will bring me recommendations when it is complete."
Police rolled out new tasers last year that unlike the old model, do not have an in-built camera.
"From a scrutiny of police level, that's lowered that scrutiny around the use of tasers. So I think that's where the cameras can add some value," Cahill said.
Among the options of a supplier of bodycams is the giant US company Axon, that has supplied New Zealand police with tasers for years.
Both old and new models of taser are made by Axon, which also supplies data storage services.
New Zealand police use Axon's 'evidence.com' data storage system.
Axon last year partnered with Auckland company Auror, which runs the software that enables retailers and police to use automated number plate recognition on thousands of CCTV cameras nationwide. Police have doubled their use of the number plate technology in the last three or so years.
Axon has also newly partnered in the US with Ring, which provides 'smart' security products like doorbells with cameras.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero
,
a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
2 hours ago
- RNZ News
Attack on popular walking track prompts safety measures
The popular Colonial Knob walkway runs through bush and along farmland, and from the top walkers can see sweeping views of Porirua, Tawa, and up to Kāpiti Island in the north. Photo: Supplied/ Dan Bailey People are walking in pairs, and witnesses are being urged to speak to police after an attack at Porirua's popular Rangituhi / Colonial Knob walking track. A woman was assaulted about halfway up the stairs of the walking track, at about 3.30pm on Wednesday, 18 June. Police are still looking for the offender. Porirua mayor Anita Baker said people were worried about their safety. "People go up there every day and people want to be able to feel safe going on their walks, even if they are by themselves. So there is a bit of concern," Baker said. "At the moment people are going up in pairs, they're not going up individually," she said. She encouraged anyone with any information that could help to report it and for the person responsible to hand themselves in. "We want to be able to just get back to our normal day," she said. "We want our residents to feel safe." Ria Greening has walked the track about 172 times this year. She walked the track the morning after the attack, but didn't find out until about the assault until later. She said she wouldn't stop walking the track, but was now considering extra measures she might take for her safety, like taking walking poles with her. She also encouraged people to look out for one another on the track and to take steps such as letting family know when they were out walking and when they expected to return. Mana MP Barbara Edmonds said the attack was incredibly distressing and her thoughts were with the victim. "People deserve to feel safe wherever they are," she said. "The 'Knob' is a very popular track and I've personally used that track many times. I know our Porirua community will be doing all that they can to support each other so we can reclaim what is an important space for all." She encouraged anyone with any information to contact police. Police said they were following "positive lines of enquiry", but were seeking the public's assistance to help locate the alleged offender. The man was reported to be wearing a dark-coloured long sleeve top, dark-coloured track pants and a cap. Police asked anyone who was in the area at the time or had footage of a person matching that description to contact them, via 105, either over the phone or online, referencing file number 250618/1395. Information could also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111. Police would also be conducting reassurance patrols in the area over the coming days. At the top, the Rangituhi track runs along a ridgeline above Tawa and Kenepuru. Photo: Supplied/ Dan Bailey Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
12 hours ago
- RNZ News
Two people critically injured near Auckland night market
Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver Two people have been critically injured near a popular night market in Auckland. Inspector Danny Meade said the police were called to Aylesbury Street after reports of an assault near the Auckland Night Markets in Pakuranga at around 6.45pm. Cordons are in place around Aylesbury Street and Reeves Road, and members of the public are advised to avoid the area. Meade said the police were following lines of enquiry to locate the alleged offender. He said the initial enquiries suggested it was an isolated incident and there was not believed to be any further risk to the public. He added there will be a visible police presence in the area throughout Saturday evening as enquiries continued. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
13 hours ago
- RNZ News
Two people seriously injured near Auckland night market
Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver Two people have been seriously injured near a popular night market in Auckland. The police were called to Aylesbury Street after reports of an assault at the Auckland Night Markets in Pakuranga at around 6.45pm. They are still looking for the alleged offender. Cordons are currently in place, and people have been asked to avoid the area. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
