In a positive turn for law enforcement, the introduction of body-worn cameras by the Garda is expected to empower police officers in holding far-right agitators and other extremists accountable for their criminal actions, such as verbal threats. The first 150 body cameras were activated in Dublin recently, which have raised hope among Gardaí of regaining control during chaotic public protests.
Previously, Garda officers struggled to establish law and order due to the lack of adequate evidence from social media videos, which often failed to highlight the culprit and were substandard for court requirements. The situation was particularly dire when officers had to manage highly tumultuous protests wherein they were unfamiliar with local protesters or organised far-right extremists, often arriving from Dublin. The trend is anticipated to overturn with the use of these body cameras.
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris voiced that the inclusion of audio in these superior quality video footages would significantly transform the policing of extremists. He highlighted that the offenders’ recorded statements often reveal their motives. These body cameras, offering TV-like image clearness, are thus expected to document evidence of offenders engaged in criminal activities during protests.
Furthermore, with the cameras capturing clear audi-visual evidence, it will be easier to link a distinct individual to their words and actions, enabling the officers to press charges effectively against them. It will significantly assist in dealing with the protestors’ aggressive behaviour, often involving verbal threats and abuse, leading to an increase in prosecutable cases.
In addition, it’s foreseen that these agitators will face more charges related to minor offences, including obstruction of free movement of individuals or vehicles at locations housing asylum seekers.
In conclusion, the new body-cameras mark a crucial development for policing amidst protests and will significantly help bring the wrongdoers to justice.
The Garda has been in talks with the DPP regarding the potential exploitation of anti-terrorism laws to prosecute far-right instigators, particularly those who participate in protests outside the residences of politicians. This, however, is deemed a challenging and unexplored legal avenue. Taoiseach Simon Harris expressed his approval of the initiation of the body-worn camera system for the Garda in Dublin on Friday, remarking his irritation that, till now, the only individual without a camera at a crime or protest scene was a guard.
He added that body-worn cameras, if accessible during the Dublin riots of prior November, would have contributed significantly to the investigation into the related violence and threats. Harris stated that such cameras would have provided a greater quantity of footage, including the initial stages of disorder which mostly involved verbal abuse, extreme language, and different interactions that aren’t captured in CCTV systems. Although they have countless hours of CCTV footage, the lack of audio which reveals the intentions of individuals, is a disadvantage.
Despite this, Harris posits that the introduction of these cameras will moderate some extremist actions as people will become aware they are being recorded by the Garda.