Body Worn Video Project

In January 2021 the Body Worn Video (BWV) Project for Armed Policing (AP) was approved as part of the Digitally Enabled Policing Programme (DEPP, with the objective of equipping Armed Policing (AP) teams with BWV in time for the Conference of the Parties (COP26) Climate Change Conference held in November 2021.

The FBC was approved in July 2021 and a contract was awarded to the successful supplier, Motorola Solutions, on 13 August 2021. To meet the rapid implementation timescale it was necessary to implement a solution that may contain tactical rather than strategic elements – this was highlighted and approved as part of the Full Business Case governance. Operational deployment of BWV to Armed Policing successfully commenced on 4 October 2021.

The BWV AP project worked to a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) principle, which aided the prompt implementation required to meet COP26 timescales. Further refinements were made post implementation to ensure the tactical solution supported the roles and responsibilities carried out by Armed Policing, including a smaller solution for Counter Terrorist Specialist Firearms Officers (CTFSO’s) and provision of BWV during Mutual Aid deployments.

The project team continued to engage with stakeholders following implementation to ensure successful adoption of the BWV solution and the use of BWV within Post Incident Procedures (PIP). Awareness sessions post implementation were held to demonstrate the benefits of BWV and ensure appropriate operational use. Footage from cameras has repeatedly been used to support reviews of armed policing deployments. Feedback from the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC) has been very positive in that it allows for early decision making and the benefit of having access to high quality footage to support investigations.

The BWV project for Armed Policing has now transitioned from project to Business As Usual (BAU) status with a comprehensive handover completed with Armed Policing and Digital Division Operations.

In December 2021 a potential project assessment (PPA) to consider the implementation of a national Body Worn Video solution across Police Scotland was approved by the Demand Management Board. In developing the Initial Business Case (IBC), key considerations were:

- Police Scotland is now the only Police Organisation in the United Kingdom which has not equipped operational officers with BWV. Police Officers and Special Constables from North East Division have used BWV since June 2010. BWV was previously in use elsewhere in Scotland however these locations have now been decommissioned owing to technology reaching end of life.

- The Dame Elish Angiolini ‘Police complaints handling, investigation and misconduct issues: independent review’, published on 11 November 2020 recommended that Police Scotland should accelerate its plans to expand the use of BWV technology.

- On 2 August 2021, the National Police Chiefs Council wrote to Chief Constables recommending the mandatory use of BWV by Specially Trained Officers (STO) across all Home Office police forces in England & Wales. Chief Constables of non-Home Office police forces were asked to similarly adopt the mandate within their respective areas.

The implementation of a national BWV solution to Police Officers and certain Support Staff roles will have the following objectives:

- Increasing public confidence by offering greater transparency,
- Providing more efficient and effective justice for victims,
- Supporting officer safety,
- Reducing and resolving complaints against police officers,
- Offering greater transparency of police practice, particularly when deployed to an incident,
- Providing valuable evidence to assist police officers in the investigation of crime,
- Supporting victims by capturing evidence, providing a visual record of scenes, documenting injuries and evidencing the demeanour and distress suffered by victims of crime,
- Providing the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) with high quality evidence to support investigations, and
- Supporting PIRC in respect of investigations concerning the policing response.

An IBC for a national solution has been developed proposing that Police Scotland deliver BWV technology up to approximately 17.8k officers and support staff in order to meet the daily requirements of a national policing service. A national rollout would also include a refresh of the Armed Policing BWV solution.

There are key dependencies which will require to be carefully considered to secure the successful implementation of a national BWV solution for Police Scotland, namely the Digital Evidence Sharing Capability Project (DESC), Digital Division Network Infrastructure, Estates, and Training.

The IBC has been submitted into governance and was approved at the Police Scotland Change Board (01/11/22) and Scottish Police Authority Resources Committee (10/11/22) with a view to producing a Full Business Case for August 2023.

The development of a national BWV solution will bring Police Scotland in line with policing across the rest of the United Kingdom and significantly contribute to modernising and driving forward opportunities for change to how policing is delivered to communities across Scotland and the wider Criminal Justice system in the future.