Home Office changes regulations to enable officers to spend more time outside of police stations
The Home Office has passed new regulations to enable police officers to use body-worn video cameras in interviewing suspects outside of police stations.
The move follows joint work by the department and police forces to maximise the time officers spend on the frontline.
They can already use other evidence captured by wearable cameras.
Minister for Policing and the Fire Service, Nick Hurd, said: “I want our police officers to have access to the best possible equipment, and to be able to use it to bring greater efficiency to frontline policing.
“We will keep looking for ways to save time and work more effectively, and we will do everything we can to support forces as they adapt for the future.”
Extra protections
The Home Office said that as part of the new regulations it is also strengthening the protections for interviewees and will require all interviews with suspects to be recorded when a working audio device is available.
The plans also include a definition of vulnerability, so that it is clear when interviews must be conducted with independent support for the suspect from an appropriate adult and, if one is requested, a solicitor.
It added that by the end of this year 60,000 body-worn video cameras will have been deployed by police forces across England and Wales.
Image from Axon
