Portugal Maritime Police will start to use bodycams for monitoring Criminal activities. A new order has been signed by the Deputy Secretary of State and National Defense. Authorities can now use body cameras as part of their uniforms.
Bodycams For Maritime Police
Álvaro Castelo Branco, Deputy Secretary of State and National Defense signed this agreement with Maritime Police. This has established that the usage of the bodycam instruments is completed after recommendations from the National Data Protection Commission (CNPD). The government has planned to use 112 bodycams for Maritime Police at the beginning of the process. This process of installation of bodycams is according to all the legal protocols set by the law which was published in January 2023.
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These bodycams will be used by the Maritime Polie 11 months after they were presented to the authorities. The law also allows the usage of portable cameras by the police officers. These bodycams will protect the officers who are currently on duty as well as the citizens. The Secretary of State has justified the authorities and public about the usage of these cameras.
Authorities believe that using these cameras will strengthen the security of the cities. These cameras may come in handy during the interrogation of people and coastal surveillance operations. Maritime Police can perform their duties while the fundamental rights of citizens are protected with these cameras. The bodycams will mark the transparency of any search and seizure operation that will take place in municipalities. Maritime Police stated:
[Bodycams is] an effective tool for capturing evidence in conflict situations, intervention in risk areas or in inspection and patrolling operations.
Bodycams & 112 Tasers Provided To Maritime Police
The purchase of the bodycams for Maritime Police was a result of an international public competition. The cost of these purchases was around 340,000 euros. These bodycams were presented by the National Maritime Authority (AMN) on 28 November 2023. It served as a new way of using technology for the betterment of police services. These bodycams came along with 112 tasers which were also handed over to Maritime Police. These Tasers will serve as a warning to individuals who do not follow law enforcement. AMN is all in favor of these bodycams as it believes:
[These bodycams act] as an element of capturing evidence and helping police officers operate, as they not only allow live transmission to a command post or control center of the Maritime Police, but also generate evidence capable of to be used in court to legitimize, or not, the actions of police officers and citizens.
Tasers are a vital resource for the police. It is an easy way to give a fair warning to individuals so they can act according to the law. Tasers usually serve as an element of a warning without using any physical touch with the culprit. It can be perfectly used to de-escalate any tense situation. However, the use of bodycams will not allow officers to provide evidence for every shot that they fire. These bodycams can also be served to get evidence when Tasers are used by officers. This evidence can be presented in court where the judge can easily give a verdict according to the videos of the bodycam. It can also be used as a tool to provide transparency to all operations conducted by the police.
Technology An Asset During Operations
National Maritime Authority (AMN) believes that these tools can be used together to fully operate. It can be used along with tasers which will automatically activate the bodycams. If a police officer is in danger or when he feels some stress, these bodycams will automatically be activated.
AMN is in support of these items which have provided more security for the citizens as well as the police force. The usage of 112 tasers along with bodycams will benefit the Maritime Police during their searches, seizers and raids.
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