John Ward ARTICLE
On Monday 6 August 2018, body worn camera devices were issued to a number of frontline police officers in Hobart. The roll-out will eventually occur state-wide whereby all frontline police officers will be equipped with body worn cameras. body worn cameras are specialised technology attached to the front of a police officer’s high-visibility vest, and will record video and audio from a first person perspective. The use of this technology has been widely adopted across Australia and overseas. Body worn cameras are highly visible to anyone interacting with a police officer, attached to the front of a police officer’s high-visibility vest. Police officers will record their attendance at all operational incidents in accordance with established policy and guidelines for the use of the devices. Body Worn Cameras will provide significant operational benefits across frontline policing, including: • Improved safety to frontline officers by positively influencing the behaviour of people interacting with police. • Providing an accurate record of events to resolve cases where drugs and/or alcohol have impacted the recollection of witnesses and offenders. • Further enhancing the ability for police officers to gather quality timely evidence at incident scenes and from interactions with members of the public. • Supporting prosecutions. Recently amended legislation allows police to make audio visual recordings in all operational environments, which includes inside licensed venues. All footage captured by body worn cameras is the property of the Department of Police, and Fire and Emergency Management. All requests for access to footage from members of the public will be subject to existing right to Information requirements. I provide this information as a way of alerting licensees and other interested stakeholders of the introduction of body worn cameras within Tasmania Police. As police move throughout licensed premises, for any reason (invitation, offence, disturbance, licensing police patrols etc), any footage captured on body worn cameras can / will be used to form part of a prosecution brief of evidence.Such evidence could potentially include breaches of liquor licensing legislation therefore I recommend licensees remind their staff of legislative (mandated) obligations contained within the Liquor Licensing Act 1990. As always, I am keen to maintain a proactive relationship with all industry stakeholders, as such I encourage you to contact Southern Licensing Services on 61 73 2758 for any future assistance.
April 2019 www.tha.asn.au
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