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Geraldton Police are now wearing body cameras

Tamra CarrGeraldton Guardian
A constable wears a new body camera at Geraldton Police Station.
Camera IconA constable wears a new body camera at Geraldton Police Station. Credit: Tamra Carr The Geraldton Guardian

Mid West Gascoyne police superintendent Roger Beer addressed the media today about the early roll out of body-worn cameras.

“When police put on the cameras they tell whoever they’re interacting with that they are being recorded,” Supt Beer said.

“This has led to de-escalation of situations in the past.”

Supt Beer said every officer would be allocated a camera.

Geraldton and the northern areas of the Mid West Gascoyne such as Carnarvon, Meekatharra and Cue, will be allocated a camera first, with southern police stations getting them next week.

He said officers had already been trained.

This fulfils a promise Police Commissioner Chris Dawson made after the police shooting of Joyce Clarke, 29, last month.

He fast-tracked the roll-out of the cameras to the Mid West-Gascoyne which had originally been scheduled for next year.

The Mid West-Gascoyne is the second regional district to receive the cameras, which Pilbara police already wear.

Police Minister Michelle Roberts said the devices captured real-time audio and video and would strengthen community safety, and improve trans-parency and accountability in police interactions with the public.

“I’m really pleased Geraldton is among one of the first areas in WA that these body-worn cameras are being rolled out,” Ms Roberts said.

“It shows how committed we are to ensuring our regional police are as well-equipped as their metropolitan counterparts in meeting the challenges of their duties.”

A spokesman for the minister said an officer’s body-worn camera would automatically start recording as soon as a gun was drawn from its holster.

“Officers can also start recording manually at any time,” he said.

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