(Trinidad Express) The use of body cameras for police officers is expected to be implemented officially in September.
This was revealed by Director of the Police Complaint Authority (PCA) Gillian Lucky yesterday during a press briefing at the PCA head office, Wrightson Road, Port of Spain.
At the time Lucky was recapping some of the issues she had raised with acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams in a meeting she had with the top cop earlier that day at the police administration building, Port of Spain.
The meeting was held to discuss the raging issue of police killings; there being 26 for the year.
Lucky noted that during her meeting she had asked Williams about the use of body cameras, pointing out that the PCA had made at least two prior recommendations for the cameras to be implemented.
“Body cameras are important as they act as an independent means of determining where the truth lies. (And) the body cameras we speak of are high tech and are on when you come out the vehicle, so as the officers are moving the cameras are recording. It will not only determine where the truth lies, it also exists for exonerating officers and limiting the number of matters in which citizens complain about police impropriety,” Lucky said.
She then revealed she had been informed by Williams that 40 such cameras had already been acquired with the expectation that more cameras will be brought into the country soon. She also noted that Williams indicated the cameras were expected to be put into use from September 1.
