Body Worn Camera Legislation In The UK
Body worn cameras are becoming an essential part of many public sector workers kit, recording essential evidence and protecting them from abuse.
However, with General Data Protection Regulations AND the Body Worn Camera Policy UK - The Protection of Freedom Act (POFA) of 2012 - it can be hard to know what you can and can't do with body worn cameras.
For instance, if you are planning on using your cameras to continually record evidence, you will need to provide strong justification for your reasons for doing so. Many cameras will record 30 seconds before the button is actually pressed to capture vital evidence, so this will not present issues for most users.
Strict control over data (footage) is required to be compliant, our aim here is to help you to be compliant and avoid unnecessary fines. Whilst the body worn camera legislation in the UK & Europe may be stricter than other countries, it's been introduced to protect everyone.
Are Body Worn Cameras GDPR Compliant?
Good question. It depends on the system you are using so we cannot give specifics in this area.
All body-worn cameras supplied by us come with Digital Evidence Management software that is 100% GDPR compliant - protecting staff and the general public.
If you have any questions about your particular system, speak directly to the manufacturer or dealer.
Top Tip: Only those involved in incidents and those investigating should see any video evidence. Keep the viewer group as small as possible.
It's Not Just GDPR Compliancy To Watch Out For
Assuming your system is GDPR compliant and you can use it, there is also a UK legislation around the usage of body worn cameras aimed to protect everyone's privacy & civil rights.
Our friends at Pinnacle Response, one the leading manufacturers of body worn video technology, created a useful document that goes in-depth about the law on body worn video. Whether you've been using the cameras for a while or if you're just considering, it's worth reading to understand body worn camera legislation in the UK.
Simply click the link below to the Body Worn Camera GDPR Compliancy document. If you would prefer to have this emailed to you, get in touch at info@smye-rumsby.co.uk
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