Body-worn video to be rolled out across Greater Manchester

Frontline police in Greater Manchester will be provided with state-of-the-art cameras which they will wear on their uniforms, under plans unveiled by Greater Manchester’s Mayor and Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd.

More than 3,000 officers and staff will be issued with the body-worn video technology, which have been shown to increase protection for the public and police officers, and reduce complaints.

Mr Lloyd said: “This is about policing in the 21st Century. Body-worn videos capture vital evidence when police are out on patrol, they make officers feel safer and, crucially, they improve the public’s confidence in police.

“The public supports this measure, the police want it, and the technology now makes it possible. It’s a no-brainer that we now go ahead and get them on the streets of Greater Manchester as quickly as possible.”

GMP has been trialling the use of these cameras for more than two years, and has been leading the way in developing the policy for their appropriate use, ensuring that the right safeguards are in place to ensure that people’s privacy is protected and rights safeguarded.

Studies have shown that where these cameras are used there are significant increases in early guilty pleas in court, saving time and money, and reductions in complaints against police.

Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan said: “Body-worn video has been part of Greater Manchester Police’s plans to improve our service to the public for several years, going back to summer 2013.

“In the intervening time we have had 80 cameras active amongst our response teams on both the North and South Manchester Divisions on a trial basis, to test their effectiveness and their practical use on day-to-day interactions with the public.

“I wholeheartedly welcome the announcement that the PCC has agreed funding to roll this scheme out across the force.

“The report recently released by the Metropolitan Police Service on their deployment of Body-worn Video has highlighted several benefits for forces which plan to utilise this technology.

“It found that interactions between the police and the public resulted in fewer complaints where a camera was worn and there are obvious benefits to its evidence-gathering capability, with recordings obtained during the trial period being used as evidence in successful prosecutions."

Public support for their use is high – a College of Policing study showed that 92% of people support their use. Greater Manchester’s independent Ethics Committee also examined the ethical dimensions for their use and recommended they were introduced.

Assistant Chief Constable Shewan said: “Both in London and Manchester, when asked their view about body-worn video, the public said that they would have higher confidence in policing when cameras were worn by officers.

“Technologies such as body-worn video will make up part of the policing landscape for many years to come, and this funding will allow Greater Manchester to be at the forefront of the nationwide push towards more accountable and effective police forces.”