Mark Mitchell: Police Minister on introduction of police bodycams in NZ

Police Minister Mark Mitchell says told Mike Hosking that police bodycams would help clear up misconceptions in the field.

He says he was talking to a young constable who was coward punched and a body camera would've made for compelling evidence.

Police Commissioner Richard Chambers wants the cameras to be implemented after a decision was put off last year. 

Police are still looking into ways to deal with transparency issues laid bare when new tasers for frontline officers didn't include a camera. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
So it works underway to get our police force equipped
with body cameras. They're looking to options over the next year.
Apparently the policeman is to Mark Mitchell with us this
Monday morning, Morning.

Speaker 2 (00:07):
Mate, Good morning Mike.

Speaker 1 (00:09):
Is this a political decision, an operational decision or both?

Speaker 2 (00:13):
No, it is an operational decision. And on the appointment
of the new commissioner, he was very clear that he
wanted to get feedback from the front line and start
looking at body cameras straight away, and that's what he's doing.

Speaker 1 (00:24):
And when we talk about options like I mean, you
either do it or you don't. Doesn't it?

Speaker 2 (00:27):
I mean?

Speaker 1 (00:27):
Or are there are lots of options out there?

Speaker 2 (00:29):
Oh, there might be different technical options out there. I mean,
we love as a government, we love technology. Last time
we're in government, we've had a huge investment into technology
for our frontline police officers to allow them to get
out of the stations more and do more work out
on the street. That was very effective. But they'll have
to look at the different technology options.

Speaker 1 (00:48):
Are we a bit late to the party on this,
shouldn't our cops already have it in twenty twenty five?

Speaker 2 (00:52):
Well, it is an operational decision. I personally like the
body cameras, but it is an operational decision for police.
But the commissioner, obviously, the incoming commissioner, said that he
had obviously a big focus on this. It's one of
the first things he spoke about. And so we'll wait
and see what happens they do in a review now
in terms of what the best options are.

Speaker 1 (01:10):
Is it preventative and the reason they asked that in supermarkets,
we've seen it as preventative, but I mean some of
the stuff that the police would deal with is a
lot more elevated than you know, an outgrow robber and
a supermarket. Is it Will it actually make that much difference?

Speaker 2 (01:24):
Well, I think it will. I think yes, it's been
quite successful in the supermarkets because people see a camera
there and they realize their behavior has been captured. And
it's hard to argue with what's or try and rewrite
history when it's actually been recorded. I like you, I mean,
I was to into a young consulate, was assaulted in
the Auckland CBD, you know, just to cowards punch someone

(01:45):
that'd come out drunk from the pub and that sort
of stuff. When it's recorded as compelling evidence, when it's
put in front of court.

Speaker 1 (01:51):
I guess, so you got a timeline on this other
than sometime this year or next year.

Speaker 2 (01:57):
That so the Commissioner I think, is indicated they're going
to take twelve months to work through it. So yeah,
it'll be it's more likely to be next year.

Speaker 1 (02:05):
While I've got you on this discretion thing and you're
typing and you're swimming and all of that, have we
got to the bottom of this? Has this been sorted
once and for all or not?

Speaker 2 (02:12):
Yes, we have. So the Commissioner has come out clearly
and stated that there will be no discretion around standards
in terms of the recruiting process. We fully completely support that.
Back under the previous coman I was opposition. I raised
this through Select Committee and I said, I do not
like the fact that you're looking at dropping standards in

(02:33):
a service and agency like the police, standards are extremely
important and must be maintained. So I was very happy
to see the Commissioner come out and be unequivocal about that.

Speaker 1 (02:42):
Good stuff. Appreciate it. Mark Mitchell back Wednesday on the
program of Course the Police Minister.

Speaker 2 (02:46):
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