HALIFAX - A report going before Halifax's Board of Police Commissioners on Monday doesn't sound supportive of bringing body cameras to the Halifax Regional Police Service.
Monday's meeting will examine an information report from Halifax Police Chief Jean-Michel Blais that finds the cameras are both not proven to have a significant impact and not worth the cost.
The report notes the main issues used to justify the deployment of cameras have been public confidence and transparency, officer and public behaviour modification and the collection of evidence for both criminal matters and non-criminal litigation. While these issues are of significant concern for HRP, according to the report, it finds "evidence from both the Canadian case studies and the academic literature is not convincing that BWV (Body-Worn Video) improves outcomes on any of these issues, and in some cases BWV may have negative impacts on policing."
The cost is also a significant sticking point for the force as it says a five-year pilot project would cost in excess of $7 million.
The report finds in other jurisdictions, results of wearing body cameras vary greatly, with some being effective and others not.
A story in the New York Times found the impact of body cameras was insignificant, with barely any change in police behaviour or complaints against officers.
