Greater Sudbury Police have purchased in-car camera systems that will be installed in four police vehicles.
The cameras will be utilized during criminal investigations and during the investigation of Provincial Offence allegations.
The system has a forward facing camera to record what is occurring in front of the police vehicle and a camera mounted to record the rear seat of the police vehicle.
Police say the technology collects the best evidence possible for court, allows the service to review complaints “to ensure we are providing the best service to the community.”
“This system will improve the transparency of the Greater Sudbury Police Service and be an important tool for the Service in ensuring the accountability and integrity of its officers,” the press release adds.
The cameras' overall benefits are being tracked by the Greater Sudbury Police Service to determine if there is a reduction in court time for officers and furthermore, if there is an increase in administrative time to prepare for court.
A one-year pilot project has been endorsed by the Greater Sudbury Police Services Board to test the effectiveness of the camera system.
The video systems are designed and implemented with primary consideration given to officer and community safety.
In addition to the four camera systems being installed, various components such as the camera recording hardware, data storage and management solutions as well as wireless transfer networks have been purchased.
The total cost of cameras and hardware solutions to date is approximately $40,500. The cost associated to the maintenance, management and data storage will be monitored during the pilot project.
The system officers are outfitted with microphones that will record interactions and conversations with the public.
Officers can activate the audio portion of the camera outside of the police vehicle if necessary to capture an audio recording of what is occurring at any time.
Utilizing best practices endorsed by the Ontario Privacy Commission and following the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act rules the privacy rights of our citizens are being ensured, said the press release.
Members of the public who interact with officers equipped with the camera system will be advised that there interaction with police are either video/audio recorded as soon as is practicable.
Furthermore, signs are posted in the rear seat area of the police vehicles advising anyone who enters the rear seat that this particular vehicle is equipped with video/audio recording technology.
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