Police agency to test use of body cameras on patrol and in big crowds

The National Police Agency said Thursday that body cameras, or cameras designed to be worn by police officers on the chest of their uniforms, will be introduced on a trial basis at some prefectural police departments in the fiscal year starting next April.
The cameras are mainly aimed at checking whether duties such as police questionings and crackdowns on traffic violations are being carried out appropriately, according to the agency.
The NPA will consider whether to introduce the cameras nationwide based on the results of the trial.
The cameras will be worn by officers on patrol and when engaging in questioning in the course of their duties, those enforcing traffic rules at intersections and other locations, and those in charge of crowd security at fireworks festivals and other events.
The filming of duties will be carried out as part of voluntary police activities. The cameras will emit a red light and officers will wear an armband to notify people that they are being filmed.
The cameras will only be used outdoors and at locations with an unspecified large number of people, and not when people report incidents or when officers enter people’s homes.
Footage taken using cameras worn by officers excluding those involved in crowd security duties will be stored at police stations, and will be referred to when complaints are made about police questionings and crackdowns.
The footage will also be used for investigations if criminal acts are captured. Unused footage will be deleted after about three months.
Officers tasked with crowd security are expected to wear the cameras on their chest and head, which will film people passing by and possible incidents. The footage will be sent to security headquarters in real time, and be deleted after a week in principle.