SA Police to get $5.9 million over four years in 2015-16 Budget to put body-worn cameras on all frontline officers.

UP TO 1000 frontline South Australian police officers will wear body-mounted video cameras by mid-2019 after the State Government pledged almost $6 million to the safety initiative.

UP TO 1000 frontline South Australian police officers will wear body-mounted video cameras by mid-2019 after the State Government pledged almost $6 million to the safety initiative.

Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis said SA Police would receive funding for new technology, including body-worn cameras and removable vehicle-based tablets, as part of the 2015-16 State Budget to be delivered on Thursday.

He said $5.9 million will be spent over the next four years on the body-worn video devices and a further $7.4 million over five years to roll out tablets to replace fixed in-car computers.

Deputy police commissioner Linda Williams said the new technology would boost efficiency within the force.

She said the mobile tablets would reduce the risk of officers double entering data and would make taking statements from victims easier.

“The body-worn videos are very useful tools — it can capture evidence (and) it is very efficient,” she said.

“It will protect our police officers from allegations of misconduct against them that are clearly unfounded so the facts will speak for themselves.

“There is actually evidence it (the cameras) change the public’s behaviour, it reduces anti-social behaviour because they are aware they’re being filmed.”

She said all frontline police officers would be wearing the cameras by the end of the four-year roll out.

The number of frontline police changes from year-to-year but could be up to 1000.

Last year, 350 tablets were trialled at the Elizabeth Police Station and Mr Koutsantonis said the trial had been a success.

A further 680 tablets will be installed in police vehicles and 175 extra tablets will be used by other frontline police over the next five years.

The State Government has also given SA Police $4.1 million over the next two years to replace its human resource and payroll management system.