The RCMP announced Tuesday that it is indefinitely postponing the force-wide rollout of body-worn cameras.
In 2013, the RCMP launched a body-worn camera pilot project with its Contract and Aboriginal Policing division to determine the feasibility of mounting such devices on all frontline officers. Attached to the front of an officer’s uniform, or worn as a headpiece, the cameras are able to capture audio and video recordings of police interactions with the public. Such recordings can also later be used as evidence.
In the wake of the feasibility study, the RCMP now says that current technologies fall short when it comes to battery life and durability.
“The RCMP needs to have confidence in the product and ensure that the choice of technology justifies the investment of taxpayer's money,” the RCMP said in a press release.
The implementation of force-wide body cameras would have required the RCMP to purchase thousands of units for its 750-plus detachments, at a cost of millions. The RCMP, however, says that it is committed to continuing research and experimentation with the technology.
"As a modern police force, the RCMP recognizes the importance of constantly researching new equipment to be used in operational settings, and we will continue to assess new (body-worn camera) technologies as they become available," RCMP Deputy Commissioner of Contract and Aboriginal Policing Kevin Brosseau said in a written statement.
Although body-worn cameras are thought to enhance police accountability, critics say they create a myriad privacy concerns. Numerous police forces across Canada have been experimenting with the devices in recent years, though none have fully rolled out the technology.
