Equip RCMP officers with body worn cameras

The RCMP will implement a Body-Worn Camera Program to improve public transparency and accountability and to respond to concerns about policing from racialized and Indigenous communities.

The objective of the program is to equip all RCMP officers who have operational interactions with the public with a body-worn camera while on duty. This includes the front-line police officers that hold specific duty functions in uniform policing activities and account for over 90% of use of force encounters documented. It is estimated that between 10,000 and 15,000 cameras will be deployed.

The program will also implement supporting software technology to store and ensure ready access to video evidence to support court proceedings, access to information requests and other complaints processes in a manner that respects privacy legislation.

More information:

Why it matters

The public should always feel protected and respected by the police. Body-worn cameras can help increase trust between police and the communities they serve, because:

  • they show what happens during interactions with police
  • videos can be used as evidence for complaints or in court
  • they can encourage better police and public behaviour

Aug 2023

Update

In May 2023, as part of the procurement process for body-worn cameras, 236 participants in select detachments in Alberta, Nova Scotia and Nunavut began testing the body-worn cameras and digital evidence management system in an operational setting. This included 205 Divisional frontline users, and 31 users in support roles in the Divisions and National Headquarters.

To assess the Field Test Service, the RCMP used a combination of pre-scripted test plans and a survey of operational users to validate the Contractor's ability to meet the contractual requirements established by the RCMP.

Although the Field Test was expected to conclude on July 24, it was determined more time is needed to fully evaluate the contractor's recommended remedies and improvements before deciding on the success of the Field Test and whether to proceed to broader implementation and deployment.

Preliminary results from the community survey responses indicate strong support for this initiative, with 94% of respondents perceiving body-worn cameras will help RCMP officers to be more transparent, help increase RCMP officers' accountability (93%) and increase trust in RCMP officers (88%).

May 2022

Update

As part of the procurement process for body-worn cameras, the Request for Proposals will be sent to the three provisionally qualified vendors. Once the contract is awarded, a field test will begin with approximately 300 cameras. The RCMP will test the cameras in three different settings: Alberta, Nova Scotia and Nunavut (urban, rural and northern/remote).

The RCMP is finalizing its internal policy to support the use of body-worn cameras. Specific training is also being developed and an updated Privacy Impact Assessment is in progress.

Stakeholder engagement on the project at the national and local levels is ongoing.

In October 2022, the RCMP published a new body-worn cameras operational policy, in advance of camera rollout. The policy provides guidance and direction to RCMP officers on the use of body-worn cameras as well as their roles and responsibilities. To be transparent about our use of body-worn cameras, the RCMP is making the policy available to the public. To request a copy of the policy, email: BWC_policy_politique_CVC@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.

Jan 2022

Update

A pilot project for body-worn cameras in Iqaluit, Nunavut, concluded on May 31, 2021. This pilot, involving 24 officers, used existing equipment that RCMP generally uses for rapid deployment to public order events. The purpose of the pilot project was to gather information, including community needs and concerns, and to help assess training needs and inform policy, including on video use at trial. This information will help inform the broader rollout of BWCs across the country.

In May 2021, the RCMP posted an Invitation to Qualify (ITQ), one of the first phases of the procurement process. Rationale: The V Division pilot and the procurement process were not linked. This step concluded on August 9th, 2021. Three responses successfully met the evaluation criteria. The three vendors, who are provisionally qualified, are leaders in this field.

The procurement process is continuing its next steps, including the "review and refine requirements" (RRR) process lead by Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC). When the successful vendor is selected, the Field Test will begin.

An external website dedicated to this initiative was launched.


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