POLICE at Capalaba, Cleveland, Redland Bay, Dunwich, Macleay Island and Russell Island stations will be issued with body worn cameras by the end of the year.
Police Minister Mark Ryan said the cameras would be delivered in the second stage of a roll out which will see the number of devices statewide increase to 5100.
“The Palaszczuk government allocated more than $6 million over three years to provide BWCs to our frontline men and women to help keep them safe,” Minister Ryan said.
“With 2400 new BWCs distributed throughout the state as part of stage two, as well as the redeployment of existing cameras to identified stations, the Palaszczuk government has delivered the largest roll out of BWCs in Australia and the third in the world.”
Mr Ryan said cameras were delivered to 26 police stations, 47 road policing units and 13 tactical crime squads in the south-east, central and north Queensland during the first stage of the roll out.
The second stage will see BWC equipment and training at 142 police stations by the end of the year.
“This is a significant advancement for the service and will almost double the existing fleet of BWCs,” Mr Ryan said.
“Frontline police including general duties officers and specialist police such as road policing command officers, tactical crime units, rapid action and patrols groups benefited from stage one of the BWC roll out, and now we are expanding this across Queensland.”
Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said the cameras were beneficial for the police and community, saved officers at least 10 minutes a shift and enhanced evidence gathering and storing techniques.
“BWCs have assisted officers in dealing with a number of operational situations, including serious incidents such as domestic and family violence and alcohol-fuelled violence through enhanced evidence gathering,” he said.
“Extra training will be provided throughout the state with the stage two roll out expected to be completed in December 2017.”
