Chris Cahill: Police Association President on the Police Commissioner giving body cams the green light

The Police union is celebrating the decision to work towards rolling out body cameras - but wants it done right. 

Police Commissioner Richard Chambers says staff are assessing options for equipping frontline officers with the technology. 

The Police Association says it could clear-up misconceptions in the field, reduce complaints, and lead to more guilty pleas. 

President Chris Cahill says body-cameras have become the international standard. 

He says many officers in Australia don't want to deploy without the technology. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Police Commissioner Richard Chambers has given the green lights for
police to use body cameras. He's asked a senior team
member to look into options for the scheme over the
next year. Chris Carhill, the Police Association President, with us
this morning. Good morning, Chris, Good morning, Ryan. Now jury's
out on evidence. Is it whether these things will make
a massive difference or do you think they will?

Speaker 2 (00:21):
The massive difference is certainly out. It hasn't had quite
the extent of change that you would think around the world.
But that doesn't mean we're not positive on them. We
still think they make it a difference. It's worth finding
out the real benefits of by using them.

Speaker 1 (00:35):
What about the cost There was talk there were about
one thousand bucks apart, but that's the easy part. Then
you've got to store the data and all of that
stuff's expensive.

Speaker 2 (00:43):
Yeah, there's some real fish ups. Obviously there's the cost
to actually get them, but it's the data stores that
really causes the problem. And around the world there's been
a number of forces who have actually started to withdraw
them because of the extra cost that they simply don't
have the budget for. And I think are the biggest
us to decide New Zealand is what are we going
to store how long are we going to store it for?

(01:05):
And then who will have access to it or to
be available to under an Official Information Act request? Could
the media get everything they want or will it be
restricted to court?

Speaker 1 (01:16):
Because what is the It's a huge risk to take.
What is the problem that they are solving? Do you
think is it a lack of trust? Do you think
enough New Zealanders don't trust what a police officer says anymore,
so they need a body camera?

Speaker 2 (01:30):
Well, I think the problem is that around the world
are so prevalent now that you sort of start to
become the outlier and people think that why have we
not got them? I mean, certainly when everyone else is
recording police on phones and then producing limited footage that
shows things in a certain light. The advantage of having
the full story is there for officers. It just clears

(01:50):
up those disputed incidents a lot less complaints or complaints
resolved a lot quicker, and you can get a variety
of them, so you can get ones that only one
within ten meters any other officer. The camera goes on
as well, so you get different angles which can tell
a different story. So there are several benefits there, but
as I say that with some flesh shocks, and the

(02:11):
obvious one is the cost. And when you've got pre stations,
you know, literally closing because they're not up to standard,
you have to then decide what's so priorty.

Speaker 1 (02:20):
Appreciate your time. Chris Carhild, the Police Association President, with
that this morning. For more from Early Edition with Ryan Bridge,
listen live to News Talks.

Speaker 2 (02:29):
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