Townsville police get geared up with new live-streaming body-worn cameras

Townsville cops have been geared up with more than 600 new body-worn cameras, allowing officers on the front lines to livestream unfolding sieges and emergencies to save valuable response time.

Townsville cops have been geared up with more than 600 new body-worn cameras, allowing officers on the front lines to livestream unfolding sieges and emergencies to save valuable response time.

Police Minister Mark Ryan said state-of-the-art cameras had the option to livestream interactions and feed information back to a specialist or higher-ranking police in real-time.

He said it will cost the government $16 million to roll out 12,200 cameras across the state by next June, with more than 600 already being used in Townsville.

“This will be useful for situations like sieges, and critical incidents where officers on the ground can livestream exactly what’s going on and responding officers, through their iPads, are able to view what’s happening as they’re racing to the situation,” he said.

A closer look at the new police body worn cameras. Picture: Natasha Emeck

“This is lifesaving technology that strengthens the response of our police, to ensure we can make quick and accurate decisions at the touch of a button.”

Acting Deputy Commissioner Mark Wheeler said the livestream cameras had already proven successful during a siege situation on Magnetic Island earlier this year, where a police negotiation co-ordinator managed the on-scene negotiator response without having to travel to the island via ferry.

“This is just an extra tool in the tool-belt of our officers, to ensure we can best protect the public,” he said.

More than 600 new police body worn cameras have rolled out in Townsville. Picture: Natasha Emeck

“Having this technology allows our on-scene crews to utilise the advice from teams off-scene, in an instant.

“It’s no secret some of our police are quite young. They’re all very dedicated professionals but having that extra pair of eyes from a situation awareness perspective is a real boost for our officers on the ground.”

Acting Superintendent Dean Cavanagh said the live-streaming would save valuable time during emergencies where every second can count.

“This will be a big help and save time for all the special units like forensic crash, bomb techs, negotiators who may be needed at an incident,” he said.

Minister Ryan said police in Townsville would also soon be equipped with new integrated load-bearing vests (ILBV).

He said the vests, featuring combined safety features to protect them for gunshots and stabbings, will first roll out in Brisbane and then the rest of the state over 12 months. 

Originally published as Townsville police get geared up with new live-streaming body-worn cameras