As part of the RCMP's ongoing efforts to be transparent and accountable to the communities we serve, RCMP officers in Newfoundland and Labrador will start using body-worn cameras this month.
Body-worn cameras can help increase trust between police and the communities they serve. The use of these cameras will be complemented by a digital evidence management system that will be used to store and manage body-worn video.
The video evidence collected will provide an independent, unbiased, and objective way to capture interactions between the community and police officers. It will also help resolve public complaints more quickly, and improve evidence gathering.
"The use of body-worn cameras by our police officers is a welcomed modernized approach to gathering additional evidence of crime, promoting accountability of our police officers and increasing transparency and public trust." said Assistant Commissioner Pat Cahill, Commanding Officer of RCMP NL.
"The introduction of police body-worn cameras to Newfoundland and Labrador is an important tool in public safety for both officers and the public. As a government, we support the RCMP and their approach to enhance accountability and foster trust with the communities it serves." said Bernard Davis, Minister of Justice and Public Safety.
Starting on November 18, 2024, body-worn cameras will be worn by RCMP officers working out of Holyrood and Ferryland detachments and will expand to officers in Placentia and Whitbourne detachments the following week. It is anticipated that by the end of this year, RCMP officers in both Bay Roberts and Harbour Grace detachments will be equipped with body-worn cameras. The goal is to have all RCMP frontline police officers equipped with body-worn cameras by the end of June, 2025.
RCMP officers will usually be wearing their body-worn cameras on their chest and, when reasonably able to do so, will announce that a recording is taking place. When the camera is recording, a red flashing light is easily visible directly below the lens of the camera. A green flashing light indicates that the camera is ready for use, but is not recording.
RCMP NL is committed to modernization of police technology to enhance the delivery of policing services in Newfoundland and Labrador.
More information on body-worn cameras is available here: