As of Friday morning, hundreds of gardai stationed in Dublin have started to use body-worn cameras which can record both audio and video footage even when not switched on. Once activated, each device has the ability to keep a record of the previous 30 seconds of footage and audio. This innovative feature provides the means to capture unexpected events which can then be stored as evidence for future potential legal proceedings.
Police officers based in Pearse Street, Store Street, and Kevin Street in central Dublin were the first to implement these cameras. There are plans for extension to the Henry Street Gardai station in Limerick and Waterford City station in the forthcoming months. When these stations come on-stream, the total operating cameras will be 700.
About 150 Dublin-based Gardai members have already completed their training, with an additional 200 scheduled to undergo training within the next two weeks. The three Dublin stations are already equipped with fully functional docking stations. These are used as charging points for the devices and as data transfer stations for any recorded footage.
The downloading of footage to cloud storage is included in the process, with a secure feature that auto-deletes any footage after 30 days if it hasn’t been deemed necessary for legal proceedings. Once the footage has been transferred to the cloud, it is automatically removed from the devices. Each camera comes with 64GB of hard drive, which provides the potential for 16 hours of consecutive recording. Features like timestamping and location recording are also available, including for instances where officers are mobile during an event. The cameras can also vibrate every minute while recording as a reminder that they are switched on.
In the foreseeable future, there are plans to adjust the system in a bid to incorporate more forms of footage such as CCTV, drone footage, and videos taken by the public. Although over the next 12 months facial recognition technology or artificial intelligence will not be utilised as the system undergoes rigorous live environment testing, both technologies are expected to be integrated and used in the analysis of footage eventually, provided the necessary legislation amendments take place.
Propelled by existing legislation and an already established technical foundation, body-mounted cameras have been introduced across the chief police stations in Dublin, soon to be extended to Limerick and Waterford. Notably, the Garda Síochána Recording Devices Act has been active since the previous December. These cameras mark a significant step forwards in crime prevention and serve as an operational test leading to a nationwide implementation within approximately a year.
They are now an operative part of the police protocol and are set to play a significant role in criminal charge decisions. With the rise of hate indicative hostility, these cameras are welcomed as a significant deterrent for extreme right-wing disruptors. They have the ability to record aggressive or abusive behaviour, and potentially hate-filled verbal or physical offences.
In addition, they will be integral in combatting a range of crimes spanning from public disorder to domestic violence situations. The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission will utilise them in defense against public complaints about police officers, potentially demonstrating unsatisfactory behaviour from minor discourtesy to serious criminal actions.
Despite being quite weighty, these devices are similar in size to general mobile phones. They are attached to Garda jackets using a locking technique and are somewhat discreet. They feature a flashing red light or display the recorded stream to ensure the public is aware of ongoing recording. However, while the current law dictates that police must inform the public of camera activation within private residences, no such obligation exists for public locations.
Offering his viewpoint, Chief Superintendent Derek Smart, who is spearheading the project in Limerick, described the cameras as a vital tool for the organisation. They provide objective evidence that enhances crime investigations and preserves the rights of individuals, including police personnel.
In his statement, he emphasised that the integration of cameras could provide a fresh layer of clarity to the interactions of the Garda with individuals under suspicion, and members of the public at large. However, he stressed that these devices would compose merely an enhancement to established policing techniques. In addition, these cameras could potentially minimise the number of objections to the behaviour of the police force and economise the process of providing evidence for judiciary hearings, leading to fewer disputes over apprehensions.
Chief Superintendent Smart made it clear that the operation of these cameras would be regarded as an extension of existing policing authorities by each member of the Garda, and that the recorded footage would adhere to the standard required for any evidence intended for use in judicial proceedings.
Despite plans for the implementation of three different camera makes – Axon, Reveal, and Motorola – over the next twelve months, just a single supplier will be awarded the national contract with the Garda once the year-long evaluation period has concluded.