Body Worn Cameras

Officer body-worn cameras are relatively small devices that record interactions between community members (e.g., the public, suspects, and victims) and law enforcement officers. The video and audio recordings from body-worn cameras can be used by law enforcement to demonstrate transparency to their communities; to document statements, observations, behaviors, and other evidence; and to deter unprofessional, illegal, and inappropriate behaviors by both law enforcement and the public. 

The purpose of using body-worn cameras is to support FPF officers in the execution of their policing duties while balancing privacy rights of individuals. The main goals of using body-worn cameras are as follows: 

•    increase transparency, public trust and confidence in the FPF 
•    increase police officer accountability 
•    augment, without replacing, current police officer note taking practices
•    improve evidence collection and documentation
•    provide additional evidence and early case resolution for prosecutions
•    reduce use of force incidences by and against police officers by affecting the behaviour of        individuals who are aware of the recording in-progress
•    improve assessment of alleged police misconduct 
•    increase the efficiency of resolution of complaints against police 
•    provide real-life training examples 
 
 

Initially piloted in 2017, body-worn cameras were deployed to 12 front line officers. As of June 28, all platoons are now equipped with Body-worn cameras, bringing the total officers wearing Body-worn cameras to 60 members.  

In addition to the clear direction which has been provided to officers through their body-worn camera training and the existing policies prohibiting misuse, the Fredericton Police Force has worked extensively on its procedures and policies with the New Brunswick Ombud and is in strict compliance with the Right to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, as well as the Police Act.  

Body-worn cameras have been in use by the Fredericton Police Force (FPF) since 2017. We equipped 12 officers with them as part of a pilot project.  

No, we do not.

Body-worn cameras are only one of the tools available to law enforcement for improving community trust, transparency, and accountability. There are several benefits for law enforcement officers who wear body-worn cameras. (See above) body-worn cameras provide an additional layer of safety for the officer and those they interact with.  

The FPF has been using body-worn cameras since 2017, and has had great success with them, as have Forces across the country and around the world. The use of body-worn cameras and using digital evidence in policing increases transparency, public trust and confidence in the Force, increases police officer accountability and improves evidence collection and documentation, among some of the ways we measure their effectiveness.  

If body-worn camera footage is available, it will be part of any applicable investigation.

All body-worn cameras recordings are uploaded automatically from the docking station to Evidence.com.

Recordings that have not been flagged as relevant to an investigation or possible legal action, by the Digital Evidence Management Team (DEMS), will be automatically deleted from the server after thirty (30) days from the date the recording was filed.

If a recording becomes part of a case file and is evidence, it will follow the normal retention schedule as identified in Records and Reports policy (5.FPF.1.2). 

Body-worn camera videos may be viewed by the following: 

•    the officer whose body-worn camera captured the images; 
•    any other officer who was present when the video / images were recorded, but only with the permission of the officer whose body-worn camera captured the video. The officer will only be given access to the portion of the video where they were present; 
•    an officer who completes performance evaluations or has a supervisory role over the officer that captured the video; 
•    an officer who is responsible for evaluating a video’s potential benefit for training or to evaluate the effectiveness of approved use of force techniques; 
•    officers in the chain of command senior to the officer whose body-worn camera captured the video when there is a legitimate investigative or administrative reason to view it; 
•    the Office of Professional Standards in response to a complaint related to the body-worn camera video / image; or 
•    any officer who needs to view the video for law enforcement purposes. 

•    Access to a body-worn camera video / image is automatically captured and tracked in the audit log, which includes the officer’s regimental number, time and date. Any member that views the video must write in the notes section on Evidence.com their reason for doing so.  

o    the police officer whose BWC captured the recording;
o    any other police officer who was present when the BWC recordings were made, with the permission of the police officer whose BWC captured the video. 
o    a police officer who completes performance evaluations or has a supervisory role over the police officer that captured the BWC recording;
o    a police officer who is responsible for evaluating a video’s potential benefit for training or to evaluate the effectiveness of approved use of force techniques;
o    police officers in the chain of command senior to the police officer whose BWC captured the video when there is a legitimate investigative or administrative reason to view it;
o    the Office of Professional Standards (FPF) in response to a complaint related to activity captured by the BWC recording; 
o    any police officer who needs to view the BWC recording for law enforcement purposes, members of the DEMS Team, Crime Analyst or Court Prep staff for court disclosure and vetting; or
o    lawyers acting on behalf of the FPF, a complainant, or insurance defense legal counsel may view recordings relevant to their case.
 

A member of the public who is the subject in a recording can request to see the footage via an RTIPPA request.  

The FPF has a policy to ensure that body-worn cameras are used properly. The policy also dictates when they have to wear them and have them turned on and gives provisions as to when judgement and reasonable steps to mitigate the impact on the individual’s privacy should be taken into account.  

The use of a body-worn camera can have significant privacy implications in any circumstance, but some situations and locations carry heightened privacy concerns, for example: 

in locations such as: 

•    a dwelling house; 
•    anywhere that private health information and / or treatment is being received; 
•    a law office; 
•    a place of worship; 
•    schools; 
•    hospitals; or in situations such as: 
•    where vulnerable individuals are present; 
•    where children or youth are present, victims, or the subject of a criminal investigation; 
•    where individuals are nude or have exposed private body areas; or 
•    if a victim or witness is reluctant to cooperate when the body-worn camera is recording, or requests that police officers do not record in a sensitive situation. 

Body-worn camera use is not prohibited in these circumstances and deactivation of the body-worn cameras is not recommended given the important purposes served using the body-worn cameras. 
 

The Fredericton Police Force has an operational policy regarding their use, which due to its nature, is not public.  

The FPF has a policy to ensure that body-worn cameras are used properly in order that the Force may gain the maximum benefit from their operational use and that all staff who use the equipment or access the images are able to comply with the FPF requirements and legislation. 

•    The decision by a law enforcement agency to implement a body-worn camera program represents an significant investment of time and resources. 

•    In Fredericton, 48 body-worn cameras cost $64,000 and platoons spent a week in training to use them. 

•    Buying the hardware and managing the data is was a consideration when making the investment for body-worn cameras. Overall, the costs vary depending on the type of camera, type of storage, IT support, and use of video.  
 
•    Privacy considerations: Privacy rights of the public are a primary concern. Body-worn cameras have the potential to impinge on community members' expectation of privacy. The technology may also present concerns for vulnerable populations such as children and victims of crime. 
 

Body-worn cameras have been in use by the Fredericton Police Force (FPF) since 2017, and their use and FPF’s policies and procedures with respect to this use of body-worn cameras has been reviewed by the New Brunswick Ombud,  Access to Information and Privacy Division. 
Police officers will weigh the law enforcement objective against privacy concerns and take reasonable steps to mitigate the impact on the individual’s privacy. 

Additionally, the FPF’s Digital Evidence Management Team is responsible for vetting and redacting (audio and visual) private information of victims, witnesses, and other members of the public for evidence that goes to court or that is being released through RTIPPA. 
 

We work closely with our service provider, AXON, who have security measures in place, along with our secure network.  
https://www.axon.com/news/security-matters-how-we-keep-your-data-secure…;