MINISTERS have been accused of hampering crime-fighting efforts by funding body-worn cameras for just a few of Scotland’s police officers.
The Scottish Tories have highlighted official figures showing there were camera for just 3 per cent of regular frontline officers, despite repeated requests for more.
The force said in May that it wanted between 10,000 and 11,000 of its 17,300 full-time officers to have access to body-worn video (BWV), which is widely used in England.
However in response to parliamentary questions lodged by the Scottish Tories, the Scottish Government revealed there were just 311 BWV units available.
Of these, 259 were in the North East division, five in Fife, and 50 were from legacy forces such as the Football Policing Unit.
Until recently, Police Scotland was the only force in the UK not to supply BWV to its armed officers.
However this has changed for the COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow next month, with 500 officers to be equipped with BWV cameras ahead of the event.
Besides world leaders including US President Joe Biden coming to the city, COP26 is also expected to attract thousands of protesters.
Earlier this year, deputy chief constable Will Kerr admitted Police Scotland was “well behind the curve” with BWV, and that it should have been rolled out years ago.
He told a meeting of the Scottish Police Authority, the force’s oversight and finance body, in May: “There wasn’t the funding provision for it before, so in advance of COP26 when the eyes of the world were going to be on us, we knew we had to prioritise in giving body-worn video to our armed officers. It would have been better if we’d had this a number of years ago, and had all the infrastructure in place long before the run-up to the biggest international policing event in the UK for many decades.”
Ahead of the current, 2021/22, Police Scotland asked ministers for £86m of capital funding, which would have helped purchase BWVs and other kit, but got £50m.
Tory MSP Russell Findlay said: “By failing to provide these cameras, the SNP Government is neglecting our frontline police officers and putting them at increased risk. Body-worn CCTV is an essential tool for securing guilty pleas, reducing court congestion and giving victims speedy closure at a time of unprecedented court backlogs.
“These cameras also help to reduce violence against the police, thereby helping to counter the disturbing trend of assaults on emergency workers.
“SNP funding shortfalls put the justice system under unnecessary strain and leave officers feeling less safe and undervalued.
“Ministers must listen to calls by the Scottish Conservatives and Police Scotland for additional resources to help officers deliver what we ask of them.”
The Scottish Police Authority says the use of BWV is common across UK policing and there is good evidence it can reduce public harm and aid the criminal justice system.
It said: “The decision to roll out BWV to Police Scotland’s armed officers during COP26 has been subject to detailed oversight and engagement with the public and this has been overwhelmingly supportive. The Authority looks forward to considering data, public views and evidence of the impact of these officers wearing BWV in due course.”
The Scottish Police Federation says BWV is a “significant tool in a police officer’s armoury”
The Scottish Government recently asked an 17-member expert panel to ensure Police Scotland’s use of emerging technologies was compliant with human rights law.
It is due to to report to Justice Secretary Keith Brown next spring.
The Scottish Government was approached for comment.
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