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| Body camera bill proposes pilot program to test impact on police brutality | Body camera bill proposes pilot program to test impact on police brutality |
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| Support for equipping police officers with body cameras will be tested in Congress by a new bill aiming to unite Republicans and Democrats behind the argument that the potential civil liberties benefits outweigh the threat to personal privacy. | Support for equipping police officers with body cameras will be tested in Congress by a new bill aiming to unite Republicans and Democrats behind the argument that the potential civil liberties benefits outweigh the threat to personal privacy. |
| The legislation, launched on Thursday by senator Rand Paul and several Democrats including Minnesota congressman Keith Ellison, aims to provide funding for a series of local pilot studies that would test what impact wearable cameras have on deterring policy brutality. | The legislation, launched on Thursday by senator Rand Paul and several Democrats including Minnesota congressman Keith Ellison, aims to provide funding for a series of local pilot studies that would test what impact wearable cameras have on deterring policy brutality. |
| In the wake of a series of high-profile police shootings – such as those of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri and Tamir Rice in Cleveland – the technology is seen by supporters as a way to bring more accountability to policing, as well as a means to help crime-solving and police safety. | In the wake of a series of high-profile police shootings – such as those of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri and Tamir Rice in Cleveland – the technology is seen by supporters as a way to bring more accountability to policing, as well as a means to help crime-solving and police safety. |
| “Body cameras will benefit the brave men and women who serve in our police force and the people they protect,” said Paul. “The use of body cameras helps officers collect and preserve evidence to solve crimes, while also decreasing the number of complaints against police.” | “Body cameras will benefit the brave men and women who serve in our police force and the people they protect,” said Paul. “The use of body cameras helps officers collect and preserve evidence to solve crimes, while also decreasing the number of complaints against police.” |
| Ellison, whose district includes St Louis, added: “After the tragic deaths of Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Robert Saylor and Tamir Rice, a stronger bond must be forged between our communities and police forces. | |
| “Body cameras alone won’t stop the next tragedy, but we should take every common-sense step we can to increase accountability and protect both civilians and police officers,” he said. | “Body cameras alone won’t stop the next tragedy, but we should take every common-sense step we can to increase accountability and protect both civilians and police officers,” he said. |
| But the bill faces an uphill struggle among the majority of Republicans who fear that encouraging police to film their day-to-day activities would be an unacceptable intrusion into the privacy of people they interact with. | But the bill faces an uphill struggle among the majority of Republicans who fear that encouraging police to film their day-to-day activities would be an unacceptable intrusion into the privacy of people they interact with. |
| The issue has added poignancy amid the growing use of live-streaming feeds by people with new smartphone apps such as Meerkat and Periscope – raising the prospect of public order situations being filmed live by multiple cameras. | The issue has added poignancy amid the growing use of live-streaming feeds by people with new smartphone apps such as Meerkat and Periscope – raising the prospect of public order situations being filmed live by multiple cameras. |
| Significantly, the bill also has support from civil liberties campaigners. | |
| “Appalling events illustrating the distrust between law enforcement and the communities they serve, particularly communities of color, continue to manifest day after day in neighborhoods across America,” said Kanya Bennett, of the American Civil Liberties Union. “Our hope is the Police Camera Act is one of many steps forward in reforms and will prove to be a win-win for both.” | |
| Despite parallel discussion of the technology within the Department of Justice and some states, the chances of passage through Congress remain slim. | Despite parallel discussion of the technology within the Department of Justice and some states, the chances of passage through Congress remain slim. |
| The bill’s backers have so far failed to persuade any House Republicans to join Paul, and it may serve instead mainly to bolster his attempts to carve out a reputation for a more progressive approach to criminal justice issues in the forthcoming presidential campaign. |