Hamilton police to consider in-car cameras
The Hamilton Police Service (HPS) is considering the use of in-car cameras as a more cost-effective" way to increase transparency and accountability.
This comes on the heels of the local police services board putting off a body-worn camera (BWC) pilot project over concerns about affordability and HPS's ability to store and process the vast amount of data the cameras record.
At a recent board meeting, Insp. Michael Spencer, the acting superintendent for Division 2, outlined the benefits of in-car cameras (ICC) and notified board members of HPS's plan to apply for provincial funding.
The Ministry of the Solicitor General recently announced a grant for automated licence plate readers, which also includes money for ICC technology.
In-car cameras would allow for multiple-lane recordings from a front-facing camera, while a rear-facing camera will capture the back seat of cruisers when police have people in transport or are on scene, Spencer said.
The advantages of ICCs include the ability to livestream, evidentiary benefit" and transparency of interactions, which Spencer said will only help to maintain and build public trust."
But he also noted the use of this technology requires proper training and oversight.
Spencer cited a University of Montreal study that reviewed the results of a body-worn camera pilot program. It found that BWCs were being activated at the discretion of Montreal police officers, leading to missing evidence and a negative effect on public trust."
The study, Spencer said, makes it very clear and enforces the need for a clear policy, robust training and active supervision when employing any type of recording devices."
In 2020, staff recommended a 14-month, $250,000 pilot involving 100 body-worn cameras. However, the plan has been repeatedly shelved over issues such as data storage and affordability (in the wake of the pilot, the cost to fully deploy the program was pegged at $5 million over five years).
Spencer said work is underway to determine costs related to ICC infrastructure and staffing. More details on the provincial grant program are expected in the coming weeks.
Ritika Dubey is a reporter at The Spectator. rdubey@thespec.com