By Casey Neill
Emerald police will be wearing cameras by the end of the year.
Victoria Police announced on Thursday 30 August that body worn cameras would roll out to about 800 police at 59 stations following a pilot in Ballarat and Epping.
Police officers wear the tool on their uniform to record video and audio evidence.
Cardinia Inspector Shane Smith said general duties uniform police and highway patrol officers would be wearing them from later this year.
“The introduction of body worn cameras is expected to deliver benefits to police and communities within Cardinia Shire,” he said.
“Some of these benefits include capture of video and audio evidence, increases in guilty pleas and successful prosecutions, better outcomes for victims and witnesses, faster complaint resolution and improved community and police safety.”
Insp Smith said the evaluation process following the pilot established that police training had worked well and the police members were comfortable using the technology.
“Legislation allowing body worn cameras to record family violence victim statements as evidence in chief was enacted on 23 August with a commencement date to be confirmed in the near future,” he said.
Assistant Commissioner Russell Barrett said footage captured by the cameras within a six week period was instrumental in securing guilty pleas in at least four court cases.
“We are really looking forward to expanding the use of body worn cameras, with the aim to have every general duties police and Protective Service Officer equipped with one by 2020,” he said.
