In Car Camera System:
The Greater Sudbury Police Service has purchased four Panasonic Arbitrator camera systems. This technology has been installed into four police vehicles, two traffic vehicles and two downtown patrol vehicles. The In Car Camera Systems will be utilized during criminal investigations and during the investigation of Provincial Offence allegations.
The In Car Camera System has a forward facing camera to record what is occurring in front of the police vehicle and a camera mounted to record the rear seat of the police vehicle.
The key points of this technology include:
1) Increased use of technology to improve Effectiveness and Efficiency and in collecting the best evidence possible. 2) The technology allows us to review complaints and best practices to ensure we are providing the best service to the community. 3) Technology that produces real evidence for court.
The In Car Camera System will produce high quality video and compelling evidence for court when prosecuting offences or for protecting officers from unwarranted accusations of misconduct.
The In Car Camera System provides an accurate depiction of events and this will provide the Judiciary and citizens an impartial account of the circumstances which brought them to the attention of the police. This system will improve the transparency of the Greater Sudbury Police Service and be an important tool for the Service in ensuring the accountability and integrity of its officers.
The In Car Camera System’s overall benefits are being tracked by the Greater Sudbury Police Service to determine if there is a reduction in court time for officers and furthermore, if there is an increase in administrative time to prepare for court.
Pilot Project- 12 months in duration
A pilot project has been endorsed by the Greater Sudbury Police Services Board to test the effectiveness of In Car Camera System in the City of Greater Sudbury. The video systems are designed and implemented with primary consideration given to officer and community safety.
In addition to the four In Car Camera Systems being installed various components such as the camera recording hardware, data storage and management solutions as well as wireless transfer networks have been purchased. The total cost of cameras and hardware solutions to date is approximately $40 500.00. The cost associated to the maintenance, management and data storage will be monitored during the pilot project.
The In Car Camera System officers are outfitted with microphones that will record interactions and conversations with the public. Officers can activate the audio portion of the camera outside of the police vehicle if necessary to capture an audio recording of what is occurring at any time.
As part of Our Shared Commitment to Community Safety and Well-being we will be utilizing this new technology to enforce laws and ultimately hold offenders accountable for their actions by way of video/audio evidence. By undertaking this initiative and technology, the GSPS will also be enhancing road safety through the city.
Information and Privacy Commission
Utilizing best practices endorsed by the Ontario Privacy Commission and following the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act rules the privacy rights of our citizens are being ensured. Members of the public who interact with officers equipped with the In Car Camera System will be advised that there interaction with police are either video/audio recorded as soon as is practicable. Furthermore, signs are posted in the rear seat area of the police vehicles advising anyone who enters the rear seat that this particular vehicle is equipped with video/audio recording technology.