Townsville Police are being provided with new state-of-the-art body-worn cameras.
The cameras boast impressive capabilities, including the option to live-stream interactions and feed information back to specialist or higher-ranking police in real-time.
Minister for Police and Corrective Services, Mark Ryan said the new technology was among the first of its kind to be rolled out.
“This is a world-leading initiative, fit for our world-class police service,” Mr Ryan said.
“The live-streaming capabilities of these vests mean we are able to get clear, accurate information as an emergency situation unfolds.”
He said the technology had already proved successful, including during a recent siege situation on Magnetic Island where a police negotiation coordinator managed the on-scene negotiator response without having to travel to the island.
“The negotiator live-streamed into the body-worn cameras of negotiators on-scene, and was able to give the best advice to those officers as the siege unfolded,” Mr Ryan said.
“This is life-saving technology that strengthens the response of our police, to ensure we can make quick and accurate decisions at the touch of a button.”
Acting Deputy Police Commissioner, Mark Wheeler said the camera’s capability took policing in Queensland to a new level.
“This is just an extra tool in the tool-belt of our officers, to ensure we can best protect the public,” Acting Deputy Commissioner Wheeler said.
“Having this technology allows our on-scene crews to utilise advice from teams off-scene, in an instant.”
