https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crrk7z9pd2go

PSNI: Dash-cams to be used in police vehicles for first time

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) is using dash-cams in police vehicles for the first time.

Ten cars in the Newry, Mourne and Down policing district have been equipped with the devices as part of a pilot scheme.

The scheme is running throughout December in response to the high number of police vehicle-ramming incidents across Northern Ireland.

More than 100 police cars have been rammed this year, with 17 of them happening in the Newry, Mourne and Down area.

Since January of this year more than 20 PSNI vehicles have been removed from service across Northern Ireland because they needed repairs.

That has cost the force about £140,000.

District commander for Newry, Mourne and Down, Supt Lynne Corbett, said: "The deliberate ramming of police vehicles constitutes a serious and continuing threat to our frontline operational capability."

’Evidence-based intelligence'

Some police land rovers are fitted with roof mounted cameras and the footage can be used as evidence in investigations and court proceedings.

However, police vehicles are not currently equipped with on-board cameras.

Supt Corbett added that the technology would enable police to "build evidence-based intelligence on minimising both officer injury and fleet loss, strengthen operational resilience, and send a clear message to offenders that using a vehicle as a weapon will not be tolerated."

What is the aim of the scheme?
The main aims of the dash-cam pilot scheme are:
To deter and reduce ramming incidents
Keep police officers safe
Minimise fleet damage
Enhance criminal justice outcomes when offenders weaponise vehicles against the PSNI
Refine the use of cameras in police cars and identify a recognised standard for evidence extraction

by klabnix

12 comments

  1. I can’t believe this wasn’t already a thing and that it’s just a pilot.

    Surely police cars are one of the most obvious vehicles to have dash cams in.

    Looking forward to Police Camera Action NI

  3. Drove past one of the (assuming) Nolan ones last night with the 360° camera mounted to the bonnet – not a dashcam.

    But it’s a bit odd how police always have appeals out for anyone with dashcam footage, but didn’t have dashcams themselves.

  4. Now we’ll have John Thompson doing PSNI Interceptors.

  5. The RUC are now having accountability forced upon them?

  6. Ah yes a trial is needed to see if this groundbreaking new technology is effective, good old slow inefficient bureaucracy

  7. Jesus christ how fking backwards can you get? All police cars should have been equipped years ago.

  8. The insurance companies are starting to ask questions about who, is ramming who.

  9. Pretty amazing that they don’t already have them as standard, especially with a lot of cars already fitted with anpr cameras

  10. “In 2025 we’ll have flying cars”

    … meanwhile the PSNI are only now getting dashcams

  11. We’ve all been watching the police chase shows for 20 years or so and the PSNI still don’t have cameras in their cars?

  12. My classic car is from 1964 and I’ve had a dashcam in it for years

    But sure, the armoured police vehicles don’t need em, nahhhh

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