NCD police to wear body cameras this year

ALL members of the police force in the National Capital District are expected to wear body cameras sometime this year, according to assistant police commissioner Anthony Wagambie Jr.
Wagambie, in charge of the NCD and Central command, added that all police stations would have CCTV (closed-circuit television) and police vehicles fitted with cameras and tracking systems. “This is for better accountability on how and what our personnel are doing,” he said.
“Policemen and women are employed by the force, therefore whatever they do on duty falls under (it). All members are therefore accountable to the chain of command.”
He added the initiative was to develop the police force.
“We learn from mistakes and when we have the opportunity to change, we must.
“Body and vehicle cam, vehicle tracking, CCTV in police stations, mobile phone occurrence reporting and so forth are used in other developed countries, for instance, Australia.
“Those countries and police forces went through challenges that we are facing now, with allegations of police misconduct and corruption.
“And they came up with these systems not only to ensure transparency, but to also protect police against made-up allegations.”
He said he had already discussed the plan with Police Commissioner David Manning.
“This is for us to enhance our policing in the National Capital District,” he said.