In a significant move to build trust and transparency, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is rolling out nation-wide body-worn cameras to frontline RCMP officers.
The program began in 2024 in six BC communities including Prince George, Kamloops, Cranbrook, Tofino, Ucluelet and Mission.
Between 10,000-15,000 cameras will be distributed across BC over the next 12- 18 months to federal police officers who interact with members of the public across Canada’s rural, urban and remote locations.
And to understand what body cameras are; a small device that clip onto an officer’s uniform to record sound and video when officers interacts with people.
The initiative aims to provide a transparent record of police interactions, thereby enhancing accountability and building community confidence in law enforcements.
RCMP is confident that the video evidence collected will capture objective interactions in real-time, between police officers and the community.
A digital management system will securely handle all recordings.
The Canadian government directed the RCMP to use body cameras in 2020, when people were worried about how police treated some groups like indigenous and racialized communities.
RCMP assures the public, body- worn cameras will not be used for 24 hour recording, surveillance or during strip searches or internal body cavity search areas with a high expectation of privacy, such as washrooms, hospitals, religious places or treatment centres.
The camera will record sound and video during police interactions and officers must activate their body-worn cameras before arriving at a call for service .When possible, officers will let you know when the camera is recording.
In October 2022, the RCMP published a new body –worn cameras operational policy and training providing guidance for police officers using body-worn cameras in advance of camera rollout.
Rollout will continue across Canada throughout 2025.
The community policing and media relations in Terrace RCMP - Constable Kelly Cates says;
”While I still do not have or know when Terrace will be “going live” with body worn cameras, it is getting closer and my understanding is that Smithers RCMP is rolling out the BWC this week".
The National Police Federation, representing RCMP members has voiced its full support for the initiative citing benefits for both public safety and officer protection.