The £505,000 contract - signed with the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) – will equip officers ahead of November’s COP26 UN climate change conference, taking place in Glasgow. The roll-out follows a Police Scotland online survey where “strong public support” was demonstrated for the technology.
According to the Scottish Police Authority, a national consultation is also now under way regarding plans to introduce BWV to more police officers and staff across the force.
Speaking of the deployment, assistant chief constable Kenny MacDonald, said: “Armed policing remains an area of high risk and understandable public scrutiny. The roll-out of body worn video will help improve transparency and accountability. The safety of our officers and staff as well as that of the public remains paramount in our decision to introduce this technology.
“This is a significant introduction for Scottish policing. As such, our public engagement survey for wider use by frontline officers is essential to ensuring people have a voice. It will help us gather and address any ethical and community related concerns where possible."
Martyn Evans, chair of the SPA, said: “The Authority supports fully the roll out of BWV to Police Scotland’s armed officers in advance of the COP26 conference. There is clear evidence of the benefits for policing, the public and the wider criminal justice system when BWV is available.”
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