Recording police actions with cell phone cameras has become common now that almost everyone carries a smartphone. And when videos of alleged police actions are shared online, they often lead to renewed calls for officers to wear body cameras so that video footage of police actions can also been seen.
Christopher J. Schneider, a sociology professor at Brandon University, doesn’t believe body-worn cameras will increase trust in or confidence in the police. He says scientific literature has tested BWCs largely to see if they reduce police use of force or civilian complaints. While some studies show reductions, others indicate no change or even increases in the use of force with cameras. This inconsistency raises questions about their efficacy. He says that both police body cameras and bystander videos have limitations when it comes to answering the question “what really happened?”
U Multicultural reached out to the Winnipeg Police Service for comment. In an email response, they stated: “Our position on body cameras has not changed.”
