Assaults and threats leave parking inspectors carrying the cam

THE Hobart City Council is trialling body cameras to crack down on fine fury against parking inspectors.

Hobart City Council parking officer Tony wearing a body camera while on the job in Salamanca. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

THE Hobart City Council is trialling body cameras to crack down on fine fury against parking inspectors.

As reported in the Mercury in September, the council has been considering using cameras to prevent the “routine” verbal abuse and threats made against its employees.

MORE: BODY CAMS FOR PARKING INSPECTORS

This week it is rolling out a two-month trial with six parking inspectors wearing small surveillance cameras on their chests.

Hobart Lord Mayor Sue Hickey said parking officers were routinely subjected to verbal abuse and threats and occasional physical abuse.

“Whilst the majority of people are friendly and respectful we want people to think before they ill-treat our staff who are simply performing their job,” she said.

“We hope the use of the cameras make people pause and prevent them losing their temper and becoming aggressive.”

The cameras can capture conversations and images and continuously record when inspectors are menaced by mad motorists.

Officers are wearing signs to indicate a camera is in use and will tell people when it has been activated.

The Australian Services Union has criticised the move, saying the cameras could be used against those they are meant to protect.

“There is probably as much downside as there is upside in using the body cameras,” ASU Tasmanian branch co-ordinator Dennis Mullins said.

“They can be a double-edged sword. If a parking officer activates a camera and an exchange becomes a little bit heated then every word that is uttered by the officer can subsequently be used against him or her.

“We are not comfortable with it at all.”

Mr Mullins said staff feelings were mixed with some welcoming the added protection while others saw it as Big Brother going too far.

Civil Liberties Australia said there must be guidelines surrounding the use of the cameras “to guard against misuse”.

“We would be keen to be involved in helping the council assess the trial and implement a best practice policy on image storage and use,’’ CLA Tasmanian director Richard Griggs said.

The Hobart council said it had consulted Tasmania Police over the trial.

While it is too early to judge the effectiveness of the trial, council said the use of toll cameras had curbed bad behaviour at McRobies Gully Waste Management Centre.

The cameras are being provide for free by two companies during the trial. A review will be done following the test period with a full-blown rollout expected to cost about $40,000.