Police body cams were meant to keep us safer. Are they working?

cops camera

On the record

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POLICE body-worn cameras have taken off like a flash. The UK has deployed more than 17,000 in the past year, the US is in the midst of rolling out 50,000, Australia has introduced 10,000 since 2015 and other countries are following suit.

The idea behind them is simple: recording interactions between cops and citizens should reduce aggression and help to convict either party if they cross the line.

However, a string of recent, often racially charged, incidents has shaken public confidence in these devices. Last week, outrage was sparked by newly released video of Salt Lake City police officer Clinton Fox killing Patrick Harmon when he ran away after being pulled over on 13 August for cycling across six lanes of traffic and lacking a rear light. The footage, captured by body cams worn by Fox and his fellow officers, shows him yelling “I’ll fucking shoot you!” before firing.

The district attorney’s office ruled that the killing was legally justified, saying that in slowed footage, Harmon turned to face Fox while holding a knife. The FBI has been asked to review the case.

In another incident, last month footage went viral of a Salt Lake City police officer roughly handcuffing a nurse in full view of his colleague’s body cam. And in Australia, an officer is being investigated for punching a drunk teenager after his colleague switched off his camera.

“Many police departments leave it up to the discretion of officers as to when they activate their cameras”

So are police body cameras actually helping anyone?

The technology