Sharing Body-Worn Video Footage ‘A Great Idea’

11 September 2020

Sharing more body-worn footage with the public will help them to make an ‘informed decision’ about the police actions they see on TV and social media, Essex Police Federation has said.

Federation Chair Laura Heggie says she backs a PFEW plea to Chief Constables to get them to share footage more widely.

Clips and edited shots of police officers making arrests are often posted online without context and without showing the full story leading up to police actions, often unfairly casting officers in a negative light.

Laura said: “Sharing footage when we can is a great idea. Research shows there has been a reduction in complaints against officers because of body-worn footage, and it’s such an important tool.

“We had a case here in Essex where if you’ve read the facts on paper it didn’t read very well at all. However, having watched the body-worn footage, which I have done myself for that incident, it portrays a completely different story to what you would have read on the page.

“The compassion and attitudes of the officers involved were exemplary. They showed an unbelievable amount of restraint, and that was a testament to their professionalism.

“And that incident isn’t a one-off. That’s happening every day in Essex. And I think releasing some of the body-worn footage, where possible obviously, would be a great thing to do.”

Campaigners hope Chief Constables will agree to share more footage to stop one-sided version of events dominating the social media agenda.

Laura added: “It would give members of the public more information so they can make an informed decision on how they view that incidents.

“At the moment they get a very one-sided version. A lot of the time our hands are tied due to judicial reasons and a lot of the time we can’t respond to things, or we can’t put footage out.

“But as and when we can, I think it’s really important for the public to see that.”