Starting 3 July, Civil Enforcement Officers (CEOs) or traffic wardens in Brighton & Hove will be equipped with Body Worn Video Cameras to enforce on-street parking restrictions and ensure the smooth flow of traffic. The move comes as a response to rising incidents of verbal abuse and violence against the CEOs while on duty.
In collaboration with their enforcement partner NSL, the City Council will use these cameras to collect video and audio evidence to support prosecutions against anyone engaging in violent or abusive behaviour towards the officers. It’s also anticipated that these cameras will serve as a protective measure for both motorists and residents alike.
The wearable cameras, pictured being worn by an officer in a hi-viz jacket, are mounted on the CEO’s chest. They will only be activated to record situations that pose a potential safety risk to the officer. Once recording has commenced, the officer will have to announce that the process has started.
In terms of data security, all video and audio evidence captured is encrypted and securely processed. The CEOs themselves are not permitted to view or edit the footage, ensuring an unbiased representation of incidents. The data will be preserved for 45 days unless there is a legal necessity to retain it for a longer period. More information about how the data is managed can be obtained from the NSL/Marston Holdings website.
Denise Payne, Client Account Manager for NSL in Brighton & Hove, underscored the importance of the initiative in a statement: “We hope that the introduction of Body Worn Video Cameras will deter much of this behaviour but also provide us with the evidence we need to pursue prosecution where applicable.”
Councillor Trevor Muten, Chair of the Transport and Sustainability committee said: “The safety of our staff is extremely important and so I’m very pleased we’ll soon see CEOs wearing Body Worn Video Cameras.
“They’ll support them to carry out their vital role in keeping our city moving. They deserve the respect any of us would expect when doing our jobs.
“Violence and abuse towards our CEOs won’t be tolerated and any evidence captured which shows this will be passed onto the police.”
