Welcome Commissioner’s aim to have cameras on armed covert officers as well as uniformed ones.
Jenny Jones received assurances today from the Commissioner that he ‘wanted’ armed officers, including those engaged in covert operations, to have cameras as part of the roll out next year. He said he “wanted covert officers to use it.” The Commissioner regretted that they hadn’t yet found a solution to the problem, but said that his ‘belief’ was that cameras on guns had been looked at. The Commissioner felt it was because of:
“Lack of creativity I suppose, that we haven’t come up with the solution.”
The Met are also examining having audio and/or visual recording in vehicles used by covert officers, as well as putting them on caps that police officers can put on when they go into action.
Jenny Jones said:
“Given the rumours that are already circulating in the local community about the latest police shooting, I think the Commissioner is right to back the use of cameras by covert officers. We can’t have one section of the Met being seen as less accountable. I know that cameras do not always bring the clarity that we all desire, but they are still a major step forward in community reassurance. I hope that a practical solution can be found. Whether it is cameras on guns, or caps, or the vehicles used, I think it will help to make the police more accountable and improve community relations.”