Tasmanian police adopt body-worn cameras
Body-worn cameras will be rolled out to all Tasmanian police officers, in an effort to improve safety on the beat.
The Tasmanian Government has committed $3.4 million over four years to provide the cameras to Tasmania Police, with the overall goal to improve safety for both police officers and the community.
Axon Public Safety Australia won the contract to provide this technology to the force, following extensive consultation with police agencies across Australia and overseas.
The body-worn cameras will capture audio and visual evidence direct from incident scenes. Based on evidence from other jurisdictions across the world, it is anticipated that the use of the cameras will positively influence the behaviour of people interacting with police.
This will in turn contribute to a safer working environment for frontline police officers.
“The first of the staged rollout of body-worn cameras will be deployed to frontline officers stationed in Hobart. The rollout will extend to frontline police officers stationed at Launceston, Devonport and Burnie in the coming months,” said Michael Ferguson, Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management.
“The use of body-worn cameras will also further contribute to the delivery of accountable, transparent and professional policing services to the Tasmanian community.”
The use of body-worn cameras will be supported by the introduction of enabling legislation to parliament. In the short term, police will use the devices under existing legislative provisions.
“The Tasmanian Government is committed to continuing to provide Tasmania Police with contemporary equipment and technology to increase the safety of our police officers, community members and victims of crime,” said Ferguson.
The Tasmania Police initiative will be presented at the Comms Connect 2018 conference, held from 20–22 November at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. The session will be held on Wednesday, 21 November at 4 pm.
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