Gardai body cameras will be piloted in the next 12 months before it’s hoped that a full rollout will begin next year.
Justice Minister Helen McEntee believes that their use will be hugely beneficial to investigating domestic violence incidents while also protecting officers on the job.
The Fine Gael TD will address the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors’ 44th annual delegate conference today in Killarney Co Kerry.
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She will tell the 140 in attendance that gardai need all the tools they can get to fight crime and that body worn cameras can improve front-line capability with the accurate recording of incidents while also helping to expedite analysis, enhance situational awareness, and protect police from harm.
Next month, the Department of Justice will publish the Digital Recordings Bill, which provides for the gardai’s use of body worn cameras, drones, CCTV and Automatic Number Plate Recognition, and intends to enact the Bill this year.
It is working with gardai to ensure the development of codes of practice, and the Minister will also engage with her Government colleagues to ensure funding is in place.
Garda management are also set to begin looking for potential suppliers of body worn cameras. Minister McEntee will say later today that although substantial work is needed, she is confident that body worn cameras will be piloted within the next year, with their full rollout beginning in 2023.
McEntee will also raise the issue of tackling domestic, sexual and gender based violence and say it is a priority for both her and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris.
Meanwhile, President of the AGSI Paul Curran told how they were eager to get clarity on the future of their working roster which is currently in flux.
Speaking from Killarney, he said: “AGSI members have been working an emergency Covid-19 roster for two years which saw them change to a 12-hour shift overnight.
“With the relaxation of emergency health regulations coupled with uncertainty over the future of rosters, our general secretary will deliver a detailed presentation to conference on this matter.”
AGSI general secretary Antoinette Cunningham added: “AGSI removed itself from negotiations at Westmanstown on March 16 as what was being proposed was not in the best interest of sergeants and inspectors, in our view.
“We understand there will be an emergency motion before the conference in relation to – this matter and we look forward to receiving the views of our delegates.”
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