Police body camera roll out comes to inner south east

Police in Melbourne’s inner south and southeast will be equipped with body cameras as part of a statewide rollout plan. Here’s where they will be wearing them.

Stonnington and Port Phillip police fitted out with body worn cameras from this week.

Police across Stonnington and Port Phillip will now be equipped with body cameras as part of a statewide rollout plan

General duty and Highway Patrol officers will be wearing the cameras from this week, with inner southeast police stations the latest to receive the cameras as 11,000 are rolled out across Victoria by 2020.

Body worn cameras will pick up audio and video.

Assistant Commissioner Russell Barrett said the body worn cameras — which attach to police uniform and record video and audio — would boost the force’s capabilities in the area.

He said a pilot conducted in April last year worked well.

Footage captured by the cameras during a six-week trial in Ballarat and Epping proved vital in securing early guilty pleas in at least four cases.

“Police were comfortable using the technology within their first one or two shifts,” Mr Barrett said.

“Given the pleasing results of their function along with the overwhelmingly positive feedback from the community, we are in the process of rolling the cameras out to more officers.

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Mr Barrett said the cameras were expected to improve public and police safety, “enhanced evidence gathering” and officer accountability.

He said police officers would undergo regular training regarding the use and functions of the body worn camera.

“We are pleased to be expanding the body worn cameras to more officers,” he said.

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