Police to get 200 body cams

Government will be purchasing at least 200 body cameras for use by members of the Royal Barbados Police Force (RBPF).

Attorney General, Dale Marshall said in recent times there have been some claims about police harassment and the police being unfair to people. He said the move to acquire the cameras will therefore not only benefit officers but the public as well.

“I can say to you that we have put in place the purchasing arrangement to purchase at least 200 body cameras and we have said to the police this protects you and it protects the people that you go to deal with because when you have on your body cam, they can say he come and kick down my door but the video will show what was the truth.”

He added, “It is a measure that we are putting in place to deal with the issue of accountability and accountability will always be important.”

Marshall was at the time addressing last Sunday’s Annual General Meeting of the St. George North’s branch. This was held at the St. George Secondary School.

He told the gathering of government’s commitment to equipping the RBPF with all that is necessary to ensure they are able to protect and serve the country in the best way possible. He however, emphasised the “police force depends on every single one of us” to be able to do their job.

“Remember please that you and I, we each have a role to play in helping the police deal with these things because when you call the police after the crime has already taken place there isn’t much you can tell them but before, you can tell them that you saw a fellow walking up the road and he had gun in his pocket…I just want to underscore that in order to help the police to do the job that you want them to do you have to play a role in it.”