Body Worn Cameras

Learn more

• RCMP Vision 150
• RCMP finalizing details of body-worn camera rollout
• Piloting Body Worn Cameras in Iqaluit - Executive summary

As part of the RCMP's Vision150 modernization plan, we will be rolling out body-worn cameras and a Digital Evidence Management System (DEMS) to RCMP officers across the country.

Project objectives

• Strengthening transparency, accountability and public trust
• Resolving public complaints more quickly
• Improving police and public behaviour
• Improving evidence gathering

Why we will use body-worn cameras

We are committed to ensuring that Canadians feel protected by, and have trust in their national police force. Body-worn cameras can help increase trust between police and the communities they serve because the video evidence collected will provide an independent, unbiased, and objective way to capture interactions between the community and police officers.

Which RCMP officers will wear body-worn cameras

Between 10,000-15,000 body-worn cameras will be deployed to contract and federal police officers who interact with communities, across Canada's rural, urban and remote locations.

Phased roll-out

Work is ongoing to acquire body-worn cameras and a Digital Evidence Management System (DEMS) to support a nation-wide rollout of camera as quickly as possible. To begin, a field test, with up to 300 cameras will take place in three different RCMP Divisions:

• Alberta (K Division)
• Nova Scotia (H Division)
• Nunavut (V Division)

The testing will take place in northern/remote, rural, and urban settings. Field Test detachment locations will be confirmed once a vendor is in place.

Following the field test, the remaining cameras will be rolled out over the following 18 months.

Key facts

How body-worn cameras support police and communities

• more timely resolutions of complaints
• improved evidence gathering
• enhanced transparency and accountability for police
• improved police and public behaviour

Officers will activate their body worn cameras during calls for service, including:

• mental health calls
• interactions with people in crisis
• crimes in progress
• for investigations
• public disorder and protests
• to record information to support the performance of their duties

When possible, officers will let you know when the camera is recording. The decision to turn on a body-worn camera will happen before the officer arrives at a call for service. Policy and training will provide the guidance required for officers using body-worn cameras.

Body-worn cameras are not intended to be used for the purpose of:

• 24 hour recording
• surveillance
• when intimate searches are conducted

Stakeholder engagement

We have been meeting with various organizations, groups and community members across Canada to introduce body-worn cameras, and to better understand their concerns. If you are interested in being part of the conversation, contact us at bwc_consultations_cvc@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.

Date modified:

2022-06-10