Gardaí say their body-worn cameras will not be permanently recording as part of everyday policing and will only be switched on in specific circumstances.
Details of An Garda Síochána's use and policy in relation to body cameras were announced in Dublin this morning.
The cameras are due to be rolled out on a pilot basis next year.
There have been concerns among civil liberties organisations about the use by gardaí of body-worn cameras but the Government is legislating for them and An Garda Síochána is devising practices and policies for their use.
Gardaí have said the cameras will likely improve garda and public safety, reduce challenges around arrest, lower costs and help to collect evidence for trial.
They say the use of the cameras will be lawful and subject to GDPR.
All frontline gardaí will wear a small camera on their chest, which they can switch on for a particular incident, which will display a red light and capture audio and video.
Gardaí say they are considering whether it will also be necessary for gardaí to verbally warn people that the cameras are being switched on.
Confirmed by @gardainfo today that Bodycams will be introduced in pilot programme next year with full rollout envisaged for 2025. C. Supt Derek Smart, Andrew O'Sullivan and Tim Willoughby of An Garda Síochána gave media briefing today. Tendering process getting underway. pic.twitter.com/G4vLuQcIaN
— Barry Cummins / Barra O’Coimín (@barrycummins12) September 12, 2023
They say the cameras will not be used as part of regular patrols and everyday policing, such as giving directions.
They will be incident specific and will support, but not replace, normal evidence gathering and will always be used when gardaí are stopping a vehicle, conducting a stop and search, carrying out an arrest, using force or engaged in a domestic violence incident.
Gardaí say the footage will act as an independent witness and will be uploaded to a digital evidence management system. Digital evidence required for investigation will be retained and linked in to a PULSE incident, with the remaining footage to be deleted within 31 days.
The footage will not be limited to the use for which it was initially recorded and gardaí say if it identifies a separate suspect or crime, different to the incident for which it was initially recorded, within 31 days, it can also be used for investigating that incident.
Gardaí say they expect the system to cost around €10m over five years, similar to the cost of the Garda's mobile devices.
The contract to supply An Garda Síochána with cameras and the back up system was put out to tender this morning.
It is expected that the cameras from three companies will be trialed on a pilot basis in three different parts of the country next year before a final decision is made to award the contract.
The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) said it "cautiously welcomes" the announcement, but added that safeguards should be in place to "protect people's fundamental rights".
Liam Herrick, Executive Director, ICCL, said: "Today’s announcement indicates a focused approach with cameras only being used in specific circumstances.
"This move away from blanket surveillance is to be welcomed.
"However, the detail of the use of body-worn cameras and what safeguards will be put in place – including how and when gardaí will use the cameras; how footage is stored and/or used; and how access to this footage will be managed – is yet to be finalised and will be key.
"Much of what has been announced today reflects what ICCL has been calling for and to this end, we cautiously welcome the news that An Garda Síochána intends to pilot the use of body-worn cameras before moving to a national roll-out."
Mr Herrick added that the results of the pilot should be reviewed and made public before any national roll-out is considered.
The ICCL also said it was concerned about their use in domestic violence situations, and said gardaí should keep bodycams turned off if it does not get permission to record from an apparent victim.
It also said it would fully oppose the use of any facial recognition technology, and noted the An Garda Síochána's intention to use it in specific cases.
It said it would oppose the introduction of any legislation to allow for its use.
