Release Body-Worn Footage To Provide Proper Context

IT is encouraging that the Met Commissioner supports police forces publishing body camera footage, South Yorkshire Police Federation has said, adding that it will provide transparency when officers are unfairly criticised.

Speaking at the Superintendents’ Association of England and Wales’ annual conference,  Met Commissioner Cressida Dick said that in principle she wanted body-worn footage to be released to the public and media, so that “misunderstandings or erroneous judgements about how my officers have done their work [are] dispelled as soon as possible”.

South Yorkshire Police Federation Chair Steve Kent said he hoped the same decision would be made by his force. He said: “It is really encouraging to hear the intent that footage will be released, and this needs to be the case more often and across the country. It cannot be right that selective and sometimes misrepresentative mobile phone footage can be used incorrectly and not provide the proper context.

“In time, the public and media will also appreciate the transparency that this offers, and in my view it will seriously curtail the enormous amount of misleading and malicious complaints that are so often unfairly made against our officers.”

When Dame Cressida was questioned at the conference about whether she supported officers releasing body-worn video, she replied: “In principle I absolutely do, and I think for example during Extinction Rebellion protests, the Met were proactive about communications strategy, using imagery as much as words and not relying on traditional media to get the message across.

“I also in principle want misunderstandings or erroneous judgements about how my officers have done their work to be dispelled as soon as possible. I don’t have any hesitation.

“We are the police. We have to stick to the facts. We have to respect investigation and due process. And we must not give biased or clipped footage that tells only part of the story – as often the story is very long and complex. We need to look at the whole.”

But she said it was important that the footage must be “in good taste”, adding: “In America and other places you see law enforcement putting out images that are unacceptable and would offend both the public and staff.”

Dame Cressida criticised those in the media who jumped to conclusions about officers, when watching video clips out of context. “Erroneous criticism of officers increases tension and reduces legitimacy. Rushing to judgement is dangerous,” she said.