A POLICE chief is hoping that the introduction of bodycams will help reduce the number of attacks on cops in Dumfries and Galloway.
There were 87 assaults on emergency workers in Nithsdale alone in the six-months between April 1 and September 30 last year.
This was an increase of 13 on the previous year’s figure – and a rise of 22.9 percent on the five-year average.
However, Police Chief Inspector Duncan Cameron confirmed that the small cameras worn on a police officer’s chest or head will be introduced in this region in the near future.
He is hopeful that this will improve policing and help prevent attacks on emergency workers.
Speaking at Nithsdale area committee on Wednesday, Mr Duncan said: “One of the things that I am looking forward to in order to see a positive impact there is the introduction of body-worn video cameras for police officers, which is coming to Dumfries and Galloway – albeit probably a little bit later than we would like.
“It’s well evidenced in other police forces elsewhere in the country that this has a really positive impact on the number of assaults being perpetrated on emergency workers.
“So, whilst we’re not quite there yet, that is coming and hopefully will be very positively received.”
Chief Inspector Duncan presented a police performance report detailing crimes in the Nithsdale part of the region in the six-months between April 1 and September 30 last year.
North West Dumfries Councillor Paula Stevenson asked for more information about the assaults on emergency workers.
The chief inspector replied: “The vast majority of emergency worker offences are detected. Whether it be on police officers, or other emergency workers such as ambulance staff, or our colleagues in the fire service, there’s usually sufficient corroborative evidence.”
Body cameras worn by police will record such interactions between the officer and members of the public. The cameras have a microphone to capture sound and internal data storage to save video footage for later review.
They can be seen as a deterrent, a useful tool for gathering evidence, and for protecting officers against malicious complaints.
However the body cameras have also proven controversial. The BBC published an investigation in September 2023 uncovering more than 150 reports of camera misuse by forces in England and Wales. Some officers were found to be switching off their body-worn cameras when force is used, as well as deleting footage and sharing videos on WhatsApp.
The Home Office says police use of cameras must be lawful and justified.
