Body Cams worn by officers (109A/22)
Request
- What is the make and model of body-cams worn by Police Officers.
- Are they routinely worn by all Officers on duty. If not, under what circumstances might it not be worn
- When worn are Officers at liberty to turn them on or off as they choose.
- Under what circumstances might an Officer choose to turn it off when on duty.
- When turned on and a video image has been captured, are these images preserved indefinitely. If not, for how long and under what circumstances including ledger and data information and video format.
- Do each body-cam have a meter to capture running time and date last used.
- Is non-use of a body-cam when attending an incident a disciplinary matter. If not, under what circumstances is it not considered a disciplinary matter.
- If a body-cam is found to have malfunctioned during use, what alternative means does the Police Officer use to record the incident.
Response
- What is the make and model of body-cams worn by Police Officers.
The Axon Body 3, Axon Body 2 and Axon Flex 2.
- Are they routinely worn by all Officers on duty. If not, under what circumstances might it not be worn
They should be worn at all times when out and about if available, but officers can go out without them.
- When worn are Officers at liberty to turn them on or off as they choose.
Policy dictates when recording is mandatory – eg, Stop & Search, Use of Force, and at other times officers are advised to record whenever they are engaged in an activity that may prove evidential.
- Under what circumstances might an Officer choose to turn it off when on duty.
Officer discretion if not dealing with a mandatory record. It would also be turned off for a strip search.
- When turned on and a video image has been captured, are these images preserved indefinitely. If not, for how long and under what circumstances including ledger and data information and video format.
If not saved, footage is deleted automatically after 31 days. If saved – retention periods differ depending on the nature of the incident and guidelines. Normal evidential retention is for 6 years.
- Do each body-cam have a meter to capture running time and date last used.
This is recorded via the Evidence.com system that downloads all data from the camera each time it is docked.
- Is non-use of a body-cam when attending an incident, a disciplinary matter. If not, under what circumstances is it not considered a disciplinary matter.
As above – use is at officers’ discretion unless at an incident whereby recording is mandatory.
- If a body-cam is found to have malfunctioned during use, what alternative means does the Police Officer use to record the incident.
There are often more than one officer present. Officers also have mobility devices, which can also be used to put evidence into Evidence.com through the Axon Capture App.
If they book on duty and their personal camera is broken and in for repair they will be issued with a temporary replacement.
As recommended as good practice by the Information Commissioner’s Office a version of this response may be published on the West Midlands Police website.
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