As part of its modernization efforts, in-car camera systems are now operational in Anishinabek Police Service (APS) service vehicles.
In-car camera systems (ICCS) are devices that are mounted inside police vehicles just below the rear-view mirror. The devices are set to capture front-facing video footage outside of the police vehicle and audio inside the vehicle within the prisoner control area of the rear seat.
ICCS installation began recently and we are in the process of training officers on operation of the system. The devices are set to record audio and video for front-facing activity outside the vehicle and within the prisoner-control area of the rear seat. Installation of the cameras in APS cruisers and officer training will continue in the coming months.
ICCS enables a range of benefits including improved public confidence and allows for the collection of unbiased evidence in investigations and legal proceedings. A number of safeguards are in place to protect the rights of people who have been recorded:
- Recordings are encrypted when captured;
- Where practicable, members of the public will be advised they are being audio/video recorded;
- Recordings cannot be edited, altered, or deleted from the video device;
- Secure and encrypted uploading occurs from the video device to our Digital Evidence Management System;
- Security authentication steps are in place to ensure only those with authorized access can view recordings once they are uploaded;
- Development of automatic purging of videos based on established retention schedules; and,
- Redaction abilities for recordings are required for disclosure purposes.
Once the cameras are activated, there will be 30 seconds of footage captured prior to activation to help with additional context. The 30 seconds of footage is not audio recorded. The cameras are activated by several means, some automated and some manual.
The in-car camera systems are part of the Axon Fleet 3 System which is integrated with our body-worn camera program, and will be integrated with an automated licence plate reader (ALPR) program in the future.
“In-car camera systems are widely used by police agencies from coast to coast”, said Deputy Chief Julie Craddock. “In addition to allowing for greater transparency, they enhance officer and community safety, and generate indisputable, admissible evidence. The adoption of this technology reinforces the commitment of the Anishinabek Police Service to maintaining public trust by delivering unbiased policing at all times.”
