Body-Worn and In-Car Camera

The pilot project included engagement and input from project stakeholders, such as community groups and outside agencies with whom the WRPS regularly interacts. Engagement with community stakeholders took place throughout the pilot program to gather feedback and input for the potential development of a permanent program.

The WRPS Equity, Inclusion and Diversity Unit assisted in connecting the Modernization Project team with community groups with a vested interest in BWC technology for direct feedback.

During the pilot, officers made information sheets available to anyone who has interacted with officers wearing a BWC device. The information sheets contained a QR code link to a voluntary survey to provide feedback on specific interactions. An online survey was also be made available to the entire community and an email address was created for the community to interact directly with a project team member to ask questions and provide further feedback.

BWC and ICC systems will provide police accountability while balancing privacy rights with law enforcement needs. Internal procedures have been created with the assistance of the “Model Governance Framework for Police Body-Worn Cameras in Ontario” developed by the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario. These clear procedures will ensure proper, consistent and credible use of BWC and ICC technology.

A Privacy Impact Assessment has been initiated by the Service to assess compliance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA). Compliance is an essential foundation to protecting the right of privacy.  

This assessment focuses on the collection, use, retention, disclosure, security and disposal of personal information for both technology systems.  It also identifies the actual/potential effects BWC & ICC may have on an individual’s privacy and supports informed decision-making. 

The Service has taken significant steps to ensure the security of the video once it has been recorded.  These include, but are not limited to the following:

• Recordings are encrypted when captured;
• Recordings cannot be edited, altered, or deleted from the video device;
• Secure and encrypted uploading occurs from the video device to storage system;
• Security authentication steps are in place to ensure only those with authorized access can view recordings once they are uploaded;
• Development of automatic purging of videos based on established retention schedules; and,
• Redaction abilities for recordings are required for disclosure purposes.

A member of the public and/or their representative(s) may be allowed to view BWC and ICC recordings that capture an incident in which they were involved for certain purposes, such as:

• As required, consistent with and to assist in the investigation of a matter (e.g., to assist in identification, as part of an interview, witness preparation); and
• When attempting to informally resolve a complaint or potential complaint into the conduct of a WRPS member; such viewing will be at the discretion of the Professional Standards Branch Inspector.

What if I am an innocent bystander and a Body-Worn Camera or In-Car Camera system records me?

Does the technology have facial recognition?

Unlike other jurisdictions, there are significant privacy implications in Canada and Ontario that govern any Canadian police agency’s ability to release footage from the BWC and ICC systems. If it was determined that a video may protect the public and/or further an investigation, it may be vetted for release in the same way security videos are released.  In every case, the privacy of victims and uninvolved members of the public will always be considered.

The only time a request to turn off a Body-Worn Camera system will be actioned is when an officer has entered a private residence or place and the owner/occupant does not provide consent to record. 

Officers will be permitted to activate the BWC systems under exigent circumstances when consent is not provided. 

An officer will turn on the Body-Worn Camera system prior to arriving at a call for service; when they start investigating an individual; or, whenever they are enforcing the law.  The video will be used to capture investigative and enforcement activities and is not to be used to carry out general surveillance surreptitiously.  

An officer will turn off the Body-Worn Camera system when the call for service, investigation, or enforcement is complete.  An officer is also allowed to turn the video off for the following reasons:

1. Policing activities that are not investigative or enforcement in nature;
2. During Strip Searches;
3. Administrative conversations not related to investigations or enforcement;
4. When using or discussing confidential police investigative techniques and/or procedures;
5. When information recorded would endanger the life or physical safety of an officer or any other person;
6. In a courthouse - except in exigency or legal authority; and
7. Indigenous/Religious/Spiritual Ceremonies - unless required for an investigative or enforcement purpose or permission is granted.

How do the police manage the initial contact with a victim, patient, uninvolved staff or other member of the public?  

What training will officers undergo prior to using the system?

Officers will receive on use of the equipment as well as training on procedures related to privacy, security, retention, redaction, and storage of the footage gathered from the video systems from Service experts. A portion of this training was created based on the Governance Framework produced by the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario.

Is there a policy or procedure that governs how officers use the technology?

Like any other allegation of misconduct for non-compliance with a procedure, complaint investigations can be initiated by the Chief of Police or made to the Law Enforcement Complaints Agency (LECA). Once substantiated, officers may face any number of disciplinary actions, up to and including dismissal. 

 Will officers be able to watch the video whenever they choose?

How will the data from the Body-Worn Camera systems be downloaded?

Who will be able to access the Body-Worn Camera data?

Strict controls have been developed to govern who has access to the video footage.  The recording officer will have access to their own video data, along with their supervisor (for auditing purposes) and some officers from specialized investigative units.   Anyone else who is required to view the video will submit a formal request for access.  This process comes with a robust auditing and tracking system.

Who is permitted to edit the Body-Worn Camera data?

Recorded data cannot be altered or deleted at any time by the recording officer.  Members of the Digital Disclosure Team, a centralized file preparation unit, will be permitted to redact the Body-Worn and In-Car Camera data, as per Service procedures covering video recordings for court disclosure purposes. The original, unedited version will always remain in the cloud-based storage system.