Page 28 - Security Today, September/October 2023

A Focus on Body-worn Cameras Transparency improves public trust in police, provides fairer investigations By David O’Connor The use of body-worn cameras (BWCs) by law enforcement officers has gained significant attention and popularity. These small cameras, usually attached to an officer’s uniform or equipment, record audio and video footage of interactions with the public. Body-worn cameras provide an unbiased account of interactions between law enforcement and civilians. The footage captured can serve as valuable evidence, ensuring ac- countability for both parties involved. This transparency can improve public trust in the police and contribute to fairer investigations and legal proceedings. BWCs have also moved into certain security, events management and loss prevention scenarios requiring significant inter- action with the public regarding quality control and oversight. Lightweight with flexible mounting options. It is important to consider the weight and the form factor that allows a BWC to be worn comfortably and securely. Finding the perfect balance between function and ergonomics should be the goal of any well-designed BWC system. If the unit is too heavy, it will become a distraction. If it is too light, it might not have a battery that lasts long enough, and it could be too fragile for field work. There are also different body types wearing distinct types of uniforms to be con- sidered, even within the same department, for various times of the year based on climate. Look for BWCs that use an industry standard mounting system such as Klick FastTM to easily mount/ unmount the camera while still allowing for customization. This should allow for flexible placement that captures a useful record- ing from each wearer’s point of view, regardless of their height, uniform or equipment requirements. Since we want to be able to see what’s going on in front of the scrapped just because the built-in battery capacity is reduced, why not choose a unit with a replaceable battery pack? officer, a panoramic field of view may or may not fit the need. Make sure any BWC you choose can support either 16 x 9 (more Plus, once officers have a known workflow with a piece of impor- panoramic) or 4 x 3 (more vertical) field of view based on the tant equipment, we find they’re not very keen on changing the instinc- tual “muscle memory” they’ve developed over time with such impor- primary mission. Durability and reliability. BWCs need to be able to withstand tant gear. Consistency within an agency (equipment and process) is an important means of achieving consistent, high-quality results. the rigors of everyday use. They should be made from durable materials, manage common types of shock or impact, and be able Video quality. It is important to realize that not all BWCs are to withstand the elements with MIL-STD 810H military grade created equal when it comes to video quality for the mission at hand. We want to make sure the cameras can capture clear and testing and an IP67 weather-resistant rating. Far too often we’ve seen cases of a department investing in detailed video of interactions between officers and the public, but video resolution by itself doesn’t tell the whole story. Overall vid- inferior technology only to discover that crucial video evidence is eo quality is the combined effect of lens, sensor resolution, sensor not there when it’s most needed. Some BWC manufacturers offer a lifetime warranty and will readily replace defective units. sensitivity, frame rate, bit rate, compression and other factors. Compression algorithms, while they are standards based, can However, if units are breaking frequently, they are potentially be unique to each manufacturer. H.264 is a tried-and-true stan- failing to capture critical incidents. Other manufacturers commit to replacing cameras outright after a defined service life. Replace- dard for video, but H.265 can result in a more efficient use of space when used on fixed cameras where background information not ment cameras likely will be the same model, using the same tech- important to the scene can be more compressed. For BWCs that nology. Or a new model may be introduced with additional/differ- ent support requirements or user interface. If cameras are being are constantly moving, any potential compression gains in H.265 reddees/Shutterstock.com 28 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023 | SECURITY TODAY LAW ENFORCEMENT