Hobart parking inspectors to wear body cameras after successful trial

THE Hobart City Council will roll out body cameras for its parking inspectors, after what it says was a successful trial of the technology.

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

THE Hobart City Council will roll out body cameras for its parking inspectors after what it said was a successful trial of the technology.

Last year the Mercury reported that the council was trialling body cameras to prevent the “routine” verbal abuse and threats made against its employees.

The trial involved six of Hobart’s parking officers wearing the device when patrolling over an eight-week period.

The trial found there were no incidents involving the inspectors wearing the cameras but officers who were not part of the trial continued to experience instances of verbal abuse and in one instance, physical abuse.

Hobart Lord Mayor Sue Hickey said the council was now calling for quotations to supply body cameras for its 37 parking inspectors.

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

“The whole idea of the cameras is to increase the safety of our officers, by making people pause and prevent them from losing their temper and becoming aggressive.

“Anything that can prevent verbal abuse and physical violence towards our staff is a good thing and a very positive step in the right direction.”

The cameras allow parking inspectors to run a continuous recording function when faced with an aggressive confrontation. They can capture conversations and images.

Hobart general manager Nick Heath said the council had consulted with the Australian Services Union and the Australian Workers’ Union over the use of the cameras and would continue to do so as part of the rollout.

The scheme is expected to cost about $40,000.

Civil Liberties Australia Tasmanian director Richard Griggs called on the council to release the guidelines under which the parking inspectors will operate.

“We want to see how the images are stored, for how long and which of the relevant staff can see and or use them,” Mr Griggs said.