Body Worn Video for Police Scotland ahead of COP26

Police Scotland has completed the roll-out of Body Worn Video cameras to armed officers ahead of the COP26 climate conference.

The implementation of the new equipment follows extensive public engagement, earlier this year, which showed widespread support for armed police officers to be equipped with BWV. The camera, supplied by Motorola Solutions, can be mounted on either an officer’s body armour or hat and captures both live video and audio during an incident.

Assistant Chief Constable Mark Williams said: “Extensive public engagement highlighted just how important this technology is in providing transparency and maintaining high levels of public trust and confidence.

“The Chief Constable has previously set out the operational imperative of delivering BWV to officers, providing increased safety to both the public and themselves as they carry out their daily duties to keep people safe across Scotland.

“The introduction of BWV brings Police Scotland in line with armed officers across the United Kingdom and ensures best practice and evidence gathering, as well as increased transparency and accountability at incidents.”

Chief Constable Iain Livingstone announced in January 2021 that it was of critical operational importance that the technology be supplied to armed officers ahead of COP26 which begins in Glasgow on 31 October.