South Kesteven council officers to wear body cams for 'protection'
Frontline officers at South Kesteven District Council are to be given body-worn cameras
Council officers will be issued with body worn cameras to protect them from ‘abuse and aggression’.
Members of South Kesteven District Council’s (SKDC) cabinet agreed to adopt a policy which will see body worn video cameras issued to all frontline council officers to keep them safe.
Councillors heard that the authority had previously only issued body worn video cameras to its civil enforcement officers who give out fines for parking, littering and dog fouling.
But under the new policy, this will be extended to frontline officers in roles including public protection, private sector housing, development management, building control, finance and tenancy services.
At a meeting on Tuesday March 10, deputy district council leader, Paul Stokes (Independent – Grantham Arnoldfield) said: “The policy has been developed to ensure the appropriate use of body-worn video by officers within SKDC.
“The use of body worn video aims to enhance personal safety, reduce incidents of abuse or aggression, provide an accurate record of events and increase transparency and accountability.
“The policy will support the use of body worn video in line with the various necessary legal considerations and requirements.”
The district council said officers will only need to use a body worn video camera when they feel at risk of harm or deem it necessary to protect their personal safety.
Officers will be required to display and verbally state when they are using a body worn video camera to record a situation.
All council officers will be required to undergo training before they can be issued with a body worn video camera to ensure that they use them lawfully and comply with data protection regulations.
District council leader Ashley Baxter (Independent – Market and West Deeping) added: “This is a very healthy use of this technology.
“It safeguards our residents, it safeguards our staff. It will be a welcome extra tool in our ability to serve residents well.”