PRESS RELEASE - Amsterdam, 20th December 2011
Record number of Dutch Regional Police Forces use mobile cameras during New Year celebrations
Body cam footage of troublemakers increases chances of arrest
Over the last few months, police forces and municipalities throughout the Netherlands have invested heavily in mobile cameras. Particularly in view of the upcoming New Year celebrations, the authorities are aiming to make the streets as safe as possible for citizens and public sector staff alike. The miniature cameras are to be placed on the helmets or clothing of police cyclists and motorcyclists, as well as on patrolling officers. While camera footage is to be used in court as evidence, there are also strong indications that aggression towards police officers decreases rapidly as soon as troublemakers notice that they are being recorded. Contrary to the statement of Security and Justice Minister Opstelten earlier this month concerning the postponement of the national roll-out of body cams for the police, 17 of the 25 regional police forces have already made an independent decision to invest in these cameras.
Troublemakers on camera during New Year celebrations
Troublemakers are well advised to think twice before acting this year because they will most probably find themselves being recorded when they come into contact with the police. For perpetrators, the power of the camera will loom large: as deterrent, as evidence and as a tracing method. The hazy, grey images that we usually see on television programmes such as ‘Crimewatch’ are now being replaced by sharp, full-colour recordings with sound, which provide a clear picture of the situation and the people involved.
Public safety
The increasing violence and aggression towards public service workers, including police officers, ambulance staff and firefighters, call for new solutions. The miniature cameras are placed on the helmets of motorcycle police personnel, the uniforms of patrolling police officers or on the shoulders of police cyclists, and the officer wearing a camera is equipped with an accompanying box that stores the footage. The camera recordings can be used very effectively in the investigation of incidents and the prosecution of criminals. They can serve as direct evidence, but may also be used for a number of other purposes, such as a supporting resource for the judge to better understand the situation and atmosphere during the incident, analysis after the fact and confronting suspects with video evidence. In Utrecht, for example, the police arrested two hooligans yesterday who were involved in disturbances at the Utrecht-Twente football match on 4th December. The arrests were made just two hours after the recordings were made public. At the court case next year, the footage will serve as evidence.
Aggression towards support workers
The visibly worn body cams are also a powerful deterrent against aggression because people are aware of recordings taking place. Chief Herman de Wit of Oosterhout Police says, "If an officer passes a group with a camera, it conveys the message: you are standing right here, right now; you have been recorded, so do not cause any trouble." He expects that the clearly visible mini camera will lead to a decrease in violence against police officers. He continues, "It all fits in very well with the campaign 'Hands Off the Support Worker’ because ambulance staff and firefighters throughout the country can also increasingly be seen wearing the body-mounted mini camera."
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Bart van der Aa
Zepcam (www.zepcam.com)
T: +316 1299 1315
E: bart.vanderaa@zepcam.com
Saskia Laurijsen
Coos! Communication
E: saskia@bij-coos.nl
T: +316 5104 6519