Delhi Police To Get Body Cameras To Record Citizen-Cop Encounters

Following the proposal by Delhi Commission for Women Chief Swati Malliwal, the Delhi Police is getting body cameras to record activity in their respective areas. Lack of adequate CCTV cameras is another reason why body cameras for cops have become a necessity.

"Initially, these cameras will be issued to the cops deployed at the outskirts of the national capital," a senior official

In an interview with Mail Today, a senior official said that DCW chief Malliwal had recently written to Delhi police commissioner Amulya Patnaik regarding body cameras. She suggested that a pilot project can be initiated with the help of funds from the Nirbhaya Fund.

In the beginning, the Delhi Police is considering buying 1,000 body cameras and they will buy more as the need grows. These will be attached by a long pole and a harness to the officers’ uniform and record all their movements from the start of their duty till the end every day.

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"Initially, these cameras will be issued to the cops deployed at the outskirts of the national capital. As per the crime analysis report, the movement of dreaded criminals is higher on the outskirts. Also, gangs active in the city have movements in the border areas," said a senior officer, India Today reported.

The police are going to buy high-end cameras with night vision. Each of the cameras costs between Rs 13,000 and Rs. 30,000. The cost depends on their resolution and ease of operation.

A senior official said using such high-tech cameras is to increase the quality of vigil in crime-prone areas.

These cameras will also be given to policemen in PCR vans. And those who deal with women related crime-cases also require such body cameras.

The issue of body cameras came to the fore in 2015 when in Delhi’s Khan Market, a head constable hit a woman with a brick over dispute. It led to public outcry and the constable was dismissed. Ever since, there has been discussions on how body cameras can help in such situations by recording the entire activity.

Picture credit- AajTak