April 2, 2009
Thirteen In-Car Cameras to Record Crimes, Save Police Time

BURNABY – Local police will soon have 13 new patrol-car cameras to gather solid evidence of impaired and dangerous driving and save officers time in court, Burnaby MLAs announced on behalf of Solicitor General John van Dongen.

“Car-camera footage puts judges at the scene of the crime, visually confirming details of driving infractions and assuring the court that officers have followed procedures as well,” said Burquitlam MLA Harry Bloy. “Making the collection of this evidence possible means local officers will spend less time in court and more time on the beat.”

“When a patrol-car camera can tell a judge exactly what happened, that saves officers a lot of paperwork and time in court, effectively increasing the police presence in our community,” said Burnaby North MLA Richard T. Lee. “Our government has added more than 1,100 officers across B.C. since 2003, and we keep funding new tools that make the most of their time as they work to keep our communities safe.”

"Patrol-car cameras will be an important tool for the police to assist them in quickly establishing evidence," said Burnaby-Willingdon MLA John Nuraney. "These new cameras will play a dual role in community safety – directly making our roads safer, and indirectly, by cutting desk and court time and increasing policing time for our local officers.”

Research shows in-car cameras make police work safer, more efficient and more accountable by:

• Documenting traffic violations in a more timely way, saving officers time in court.
• Confirming that officers have complied with procedures and policies.
• Providing training information for traffic officers and others in the justice system.

The new cameras are among 320 worth $1.8 million that the Province is paying to purchase and install in police vehicles across B.C. The new cameras will bring to approximately 450 the number of patrol-car cameras, with 260 new units to be installed in RCMP traffic-duty vehicles and 60 in vehicles used by the Province’s 11 independent municipal police departments to promote road safety. B.C. forces currently have approximately 133 in-car cameras, including 33 the Province funded last year.

The BC Association of Chiefs of Police strongly supports the use of in-car camera technology and recognizes provincial investments in them as reinforcing the Province’s commitment to make B.C. highways the safest in the country. The cameras will cost the Province about $7,300 each installed, with local police agencies covering the minimal operating costs.

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