Have your say! Gardai begin consultation process over Body Worn Cameras

An Garda Síochána is seeking views from members of the public and stakeholders on its draft Code of Practice for the use of Body Worn Cameras ahead of their roll out.

The first cameras will be deployed in the coming months as part of the Proof of Concept phase and gardai say they are "keen to hear views from across society" on the Code of Practice document.

The draft document has been published on the garda website and members of the public are being encouraged to submit their views by April 19, next.

According to the draft Code of Practice, Body Worn Cameras "must be operated fairly, responsibly, with respect for the rights of others, without unlawful discrimination and as is necessary for a policing purpose in accordance with the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act 2023."

The document states that prior to operating body worn cameras, "consideration must always be given to balancing the potential impact on individuals and their privacy against the duty of An Garda Síochána to seek out and preserve all evidence that has a bearing or a potential bearing on the issue of guilt or innocence."

It adds that the operation of BWCs "does not replace conventional forms of evidence gathering" and that garda personnel "must continue to follow current practices and procedures for achieving best evidence."

We are in the process of drafting our Code of Practice for Body Worn Cameras as part of a Proof of Concept for their use.

We're keen to hear views from across society on the Code of Practice document.

To provide your views, just follow this link: https://t.co/zox5l3dMJS pic.twitter.com/MBImtV25No

— Garda Info (@gardainfo) March 27, 2024

According to the tender documents published earlier this year, 600 cameras and the associated infrastructure will initially be rolled out to a small number of garda stations to allow for an evaluation to be carried out over a 12-month period.

The areas where BWCs will be initially used are Pearse Street garda station (Dublin), Kevin Street garda station (Dublin), Store Street garda station (Dublin), Waterford garda station and Henry Street garda station in Limerick.

According to the tender documents, it is envisaged that a different supplier will be selected for each of the three garda divisions which are to be included in the Proof of Concept period.

"It is proposed to select three suppliers for the PoC with each supplier being assigned to one of the three specific divisions. In other words, a supplier’s solution will only operate in one of the three divisions with the other supplier’s solutions operating in another one of the divisions," states the tender, which adds that An Garda Síochána "has no plans” to use live facial recognition on body worn cameras.

"The purpose of Body Worn cameras is to capture interactions between members of An Garda Síochána and members of the public. The footage captured will be uploaded into a Digital Evidence Management System. This combination will be an invaluable tool for members of An Garda Síochána, Director of Public Prosecutions, and others in processing evidence and in the ability to provide a level of transparency with outside parties that was previously unachievable," adds the lengthy document.

While the document set out various technical and legal requirements which are to be met by potential suppliers, it also also stresses that the Proof of Concept period will be essential for learnings, such as how and where the cameras can be mounted on uniforms, before any wider roll-out of BWCs. 

Speaking ahead of the roll out of the first cameras, Andrew O’Sullivan, Chief Information Officer for An Garda Síochána, commented: "This is the next step in the procurement and roll out of body worn cameras for An Garda Síochána continuing our ongoing commitment to providing our Gardaí with the most modern electronic tools to be effective in keeping them and people safe in today’s society. 

"The Proof of Concept phase is an essential element to introducing body worn cameras, in a way which is clearly explained and understood by everybody in society, as a tool to assist members of An Garda Síochána in their day to day duties.”