Hamilton police to hold public information session on body-worn cameras
Police officers will begin wearing them in March
Ahead of Hamilton police equipping officers with body-worn cameras next month, they'll be holding a community information session.
The meeting at Hamilton Police Service Central Station is Thursday, Feb. 20, from 6 to 7 p.m.
"The meeting will provide an opportunity for residents to learn more about the implementation of body-worn cameras and ask questions," police said in a news release Wednesday.
Police will begin rolling out the cameras in March 2025.
"The adoption of this technology aligns with the service's strategic plan to leverage technology and innovation to enhance public safety, transparency and accountability," the news release said.
Community groups have said in past years that the technology would improve transparency and accountability, while others worried about the privacy implications and the cost.
Last June, the police service board approved the purchase of 500 cameras and a program budget of $9.6 million over five years — trimmed down from a previous proposal to buy 650 for over $15 million.
The decision came after nearly a decade of discussions and the police board voting against the idea four times.
New policy outlines when cameras to be turned on
Since 2015, police say, they've "closely monitored" the effectiveness of body-worn cameras used by police services across Canada.
Currently, 17 services in Ontario use them and 18 more are considering it, the media release said.
"Courts encourage the use of body-worn cameras as they provide an impartial record of interactions between police and the public and can capture crucial evidence," police said.
The body-worn camera policy says the cameras will not be used to "carry out general surveillance" or discourage people from taking part in peaceful protests and demonstrations.
If a member of the public objects to being recorded, officers aren't required to turn off their cameras, the policy says. Officers are required to inform members of the public when they're recording.
Body-worn cameras will be turned off in police buildings or facilities to prevent recording of "unrelated, confidential or administrative conversations," and during non-investigative and non-enforcement activities and strip searches, among other situations, says the policy.
Information on how to attend the event virtually can be found here.
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With files from CBC Hamilton