Body Worn Cameras

Summary

The request asked if all on-duty Isle of Man police officers are equipped with body-worn cameras that must be activated immediately upon responding to calls, and if evidence-based de-escalation training is used. The Constabulary disclosed that cameras are not issued to all officers due to insufficient units, recording is situational based on officer judgment rather than mandatory for all calls, and annual Unarmed Defence Tactics training includes de-escalation components.

Key Facts

• There are 60 body-worn video units in total, which is insufficient to equip every officer on duty.
• Cameras must be switched on to standby mode whenever an officer leaves a police station.
• The decision to actively record is at the individual officer's discretion based on the National Decision Making Model.
• Officers must justify any decision not to record if questions are raised about an incident.
• Annual mandatory Unarmed Defence Tactics (UDT) training includes tactical communications to reduce conflict.

Data Disclosed

• 60 units
• 2020-05-29
• 2020-06-03
• 1309309
• 2002
• 1998

Original Request

Please can you let me know if the IOM currently outfits all on-duty police officers with a body-worn camera and requires that the body-worn camera be turned on immediately when officers respond to a police call? And also whether the IOM employs evidence-based police de-escalation trainings?

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Isle of Man Constabulary Freedom of Information Police Headquarters Dukes Avenue Douglas Isle of Man IM2 4RG

Our ref: 1309309 2 June 2020

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 29 May 2020 and which states:

"Please can you let me know if the IOM currently outfits all on-duty police officers with a body-worn camera and requires that the body-worn camera be turned on immediately when officers respond to a police call? And also whether the IOM employs evidence-based police de-escalation trainings?"

Our response to your request is as follows: I have detailed below the information that is being released to you. 1: The Isle of Man Constabulary has a pool of Body Worn Video which totals 60 units, of these, some are faulty, being repaired or in use by dedicated teams. The units are distributed across the Constabulary and there are insufficient for both personal issue and for every officer to be issued with a unit when they are on duty. 2: In respect of turning the camera on – The Constabulary refers to the training notes which state: When to record (or not) Whenever you leave a Police Station the camera should be switched on - into standby mode. Whenever you return to a Police Station, the camera should be switched off to preserve battery life and preserve privacy of your colleagues. When recording, an audible warning should be given that you are recording. If you are lawfully present somewhere, you may lawfully record whilst carrying out a policing function. For instance, if you are present at a domestic and a breach of the peace is likely, you are therefore lawfully on the premises. Therefore you may lawfully record body worn video, and it is expected that you will do so.

If double crewed (or more) if one person begins recording, all officers with cameras should be recording. One on, all on. The device is to be used overtly at all times. When shouldn’t I record? When your judgement, assisted by the National Decision Making Model concludes that you shouldn’t. Will the evidence provided by a victim be so badly diminished by the presence of the camera that it’s better without it? Consider not recording. Are you likely to capture inappropriate material? Consider not recording. If you can justify not recording something, then don’t record. However, it is there to gather evidence, and safeguard everyone involved. Be prepared to justify your decision. Expectations For operational officers in an overt role: Cameras are routinely carried (where available) Cameras are in switched on into standby mode whenever outside of a Police Station The finalised SOP will be found on Sharepoint It is expected that consideration will be given to recording: • All uses of a Police power (e.g stop searches, PPOs, arrests, warrants, powers of entry etc.) • All arrests • All uses of force • Anything else that can be rationalised using the National Decision Making Model as necessary to record for a policing purpose. The decision to record or not is down to the individual. However, if questions are raised about an incident and you had a body camera that you didn’t activate, you will be asked to justify why not. In addition to the above training notes the Constabulary has a Policy concerning the use of Body Worn Video which contains the following Principles: There are 7 principles for the overt use of body worn video. These are subject to continual review by the College of Policing and should be viewed here. Principle 1 The use of body worn video, by the police, is lawful. Principle 2

Data will be processed and managed in line with Code of Practice on the Management of Police Information, APP on Information Management and the principles of the Data Protection Act 2002. Principle 3 The normal use of body worn video will be overt Principle 4 The operational use of body worn video must be proportionate, legitimate and necessary. Principle 5 Use of body worn video will be incident specific. Officers will use common sense and sound judgement when using body worn video, in support of the principles of best evidence. Principle 6 Body worn video does not replace conventional forms of evidence gathering (such as written statements and Police Powers & Procedures Act 1998 (PPP) interviews), it supports them. Principle 7 Forces will consult locally with their communities on the use of body worn video. 3: The Constabulary conducts annual mandatory Unarmed Defence Tactics of UDT training. One of the first aspects of this training is around the use of tactical communications in order to reduce and diminish conflict.

Please quote the reference number 1309309 in any future communications.

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I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely