Police Scotland is planning to deploy 10,500 body worn video cameras under a £13.3 million contract with Motorola Solutions.
It will equip police officers with the VB400 model following a public consultation on the use of the technology in which 81% of around 9,000 responses agreed it would increase public confidence in policing.
Motorola Solutions said the camera captures high quality video and audio for an objective record of events, and footage is automatically uploaded into its VideoManager system for secure, tracked and auditable storage. This protected the chain of custody of the video evidence.
Transform policing
Jane Connors, deputy chief constable of Police Scotland, said: “The introduction of body worn video will transform policing in Scotland, and a national roll out is a key priority. Body worn video can significantly enhance public confidence and support officer and public safety by providing effective and transparent evidence of police and public actions.”
She added: “Body worn video will also improve the quality of evidence presented in court to deliver faster justice for victims by increasing early guilty pleas and reducing time spent at court for victims, witnesses and police officers.”
The cameras are used by other UK police forces and law enforcement agencies in countries including France, Lithuania and Austria, the supplier said.
Police Scotland also uses Motorola Solutions’ Pronto digital notebook software.