Forces urged to use new BWV guidelines
14 July 2021
The Police Federation is urging forces to following new guidelines which make it easier to release body-worn video (BWV) footage.
The Federation worked with the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) which in November launched an updated policy on proactively publishing bodycam footage but only a handful of forces have adopted the new guidelines.
The calls for more forces to enable the release of video come amid fears that officers are often coming in for criticism when short clips are published on social media without context or explanation.
West Midlands Police Federation branch chair Jon Nott said: “Selective mobile phone footage uploaded on social media can be taken out of context and often shows just one side of the story.
“It can be incredibly damaging for officers but can also have an impact on public confidence in the police and faith in the criminal justice process as a whole.
“We want more forces to take full advantage of the new guidance and be more proactive in either releasing body-worn video clips or issuing a statement to add context to any material that is circulating online.
“There are obviously times when the police cannot publish footage and the new guidelines recognises this but we have to try to strike a balance.”
Police Federation national chair John Apter stepped up his calls for more forces to follow the guidance after the issue was debated by peers in the House of Lords last week.
Minister of State, Baroness Williams of Trafford, said “speed is of the essence” when it comes to police publicising their interactions with the public.
She added: “Selective release of video can paint a very different picture from what actually happened. This point has been made again and again.
“It is absolutely right that these things be released quickly and brought forward in a way that does not undermine the criminal justice system that ensues.”
Lord Coaker also raised the issue of police being vilified on social media not long after a video surfaced on social media of officers being criticised for stopping for lunch in their vehicle.
The national chair said: “It is good to see this important issue has been raised in the House of Lords as we have been pushing for change in this area over the past year.
“What is frustrating is that only a handful of forces have adopted the new guidance issued by the NPCC and many are not as proactive as they could be.
“It shouldn’t be taking so long to do something which would support our colleagues.
“In recent days we have seen officers having camera phones stuffed in their faces while they dare to eat on duty. It may come as a surprise to some, but police officers are human beings and need to stop to eat during the little time they have free. Because of the demands of the job, lack of police stations and even fewer police canteens they will sometimes be seen eating in public, this should not be breaking news on social media.”
