Traka has launched a new downloadable white paper to open a discussion on the opportunities and challenges of introducing body worn technology into our communities. The white paper, entitled ‘Body Worn Camera Technology in our Community’, looks at the growing interest in the technology, especially across police and emergency services, prisons and education.
Taken into account are the positives of video surveillance in each of these environments alongside the concerns cited, primarily concerning individual safety and security.
Ensuring individual privacy
All is considered in line with the timings of its growing use, with a difficult economic climate and high-profile security issues such as Brexit and terrorism. Says Mick Haggerty, Traka’s Senior Product Manager and author of the white paper, “The use of body worn camera technology is fast becoming a common solution in a number of sectors. Backed by significant government funding, they have a number of suggested benefits; acting as a deterrent and improve accountability and transparency.”
“But as quickly as interest in the technology has grown, so too have the questions and concerns surrounding their use. In this white paper, our aim is to introduce body worn camera technology and identify best practice to balance their advantages whilst ensuring individual safety and privacy interests are maintained at all times.”
Prison to educational security
The white paper investigates the impacts of body worn camera technology used to improve safety for police and emergency services. In addition, the implementation with prison staff, following the recent £3m recent investment by the Prisons Minister, Sam Gyimag. As a third sector identified is education, where body worn cameras are now being trialled for use as a deterrent to resolve problems such as ‘background disorder in classrooms’.
Justin Sasse, Managing Director Traka UK concluded, “We have put this discussion paper together, using our experiences in working with dedicated body camera technology suppliers, together with understanding latest research and influencing standards that relate to careful use of body worn camera technology.”
“We wish to stimulate debate and encourage views and contributions from as many difference voices as possible, which in turn will lead to improvements in the effective control and use of these technologies. We look forward to your opinion, experience or comment on this matter of growing importance across our communities.”
