Front-line gardai will soon be wearing body cameras with management now tendering for the purchase of the body-worn devices.
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has said that that following the Cabinet’s decision today, they will now move to procure bodycams. A pilot programme for the equipment will then be put in place.
Commissioner Harris said: “It is clear from other police services we have liaised with that body cameras will enhance our ability to investigate crime, particularly crimes against the person such as domestic abuse, will increase the safety of gardai, and reduce the risk of vexatious complaints against them."
Meanwhile, the use of the controversial Facial Recognition Technology (FRT) will be delayed and provided for in a separate Bill, Fine Gael’s Justice spokesperson Deputy Alan Farrell has said. He explained the new Bill will be drafted on a priority basis to provide for the "safe and ethical" use of Facial Recognition Technology to assist gardai to investigate the most serious crimes which are subject to a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Read more: Over 2,000 gardai assaulted in past seven years amid calls for 'vital' bodycam equipment
These include: threats to national security and critical infrastructure; homicide; rape and aggravated sexual assault; child sexual abuse; abduction, including child abduction; the most serious violent offences, often committed against vulnerable victims - these are robbery, aggravated burglary, and assault causing serious harm.
Commissioner Harris said: “We will continue to provide any advices required to Government and the Oireachtas based on international policing experience on the advantages of using facial recognition technology in line with European standards to prevent and tackle serious crimes such as child sexual abuse, other serious crime and threats to national security.”
Deputy Farrell added that FRT is already in use by the Department of Social Protection, the Department of Foreign Affairs (the Passport Office) and the Border Management Unit.
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