Legislation to amend the Police Powers (Surveillance Devices) Act 2006 and the Listening Devices Act 1991 to support the use of body-worn cameras has today passed the Parliament.
The Hodgman Liberal Government is committed to making Tasmanians’ lives better, and we are continuing to work towards our goal of making Tasmania the safest state to live, work and raise a family.
As part of our strong plan, we have committed $3.4 million over four years to provide body-worn cameras to Tasmania Police, which is aimed at improving the safety of our police officers and the community.
The roll-out of the cameras to all frontline police officers in Tasmania has already started, with officers in the North and South now trained in their use. Cameras will also be rolled out to frontline officers in the North-West within weeks.
Body-worn cameras capture audio and visual evidence direct from incident scenes. Based on evidence from other jurisdictions in Australia and around the world, it is anticipated the use of the cameras will positively influence the behaviour of people interacting with police. This, in turn, will contribute to a safer working environment for our frontline police officers.
The use of body-worn cameras will also further contribute to the delivery of accountable, transparent and professional policing services to the Tasmanian community.
The Tasmanian Government is committed to continuing to provide Tasmania Police with contemporary equipment and technology to increase the safety of our police officers, people in the community and victims of crime.
