Borrower: NAV 2::- C\1 Lending String: *WJ,NJM,COA (1) TN#: 131483 111111111111111111111111111 IIIII IIII IIII (/) ILL Number: 189524579 "C >- Illllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll 111111111111111111 Location: 0 _j Patron: ,,,,,..-..... Call#: --:, Charge Maxcost: 0.00 Periodicals - HV7551 Fax: (703) 824-2200 .P646 s..._.... Email: [email protected] Book/Journal Title: Q) (.) Odyssey: Policing : a journal of ..f-1 policy and practice. Ten r en Ariel CD ::J Years of Body Worn ::J --:, _j Video in a. - _j ::J ro -I Northamptonshire C co ·- ~ PolicePolicing : a journal C\1 E L.. ·-s..... ·-..0 . of policy and practice. )> u _j ~ Volume: 12 - \to- (") 0 Issue: 1 CD- Q) C) Month: Q) 0 Year: March 2018 u Pages: 116-119 >. ro Article Title: Ten Years of Body Worn --:, Video in Northamptonshire Police C .c Article Author: David Spencer Richard 0 Cheshire ---:, John Jay College of Criminal Justice Lloyd Sealy Library Ship to: 524 West 59th Street Library - CNA Corporation New York, NY 10019 3003 Washington Blvd. 212-237-8257 (phone) Arlington, Virginia 22201 212-23 7-8221 (fax) United States [email protected] 116 lcommentaryl Ten Years ofBody Worn Video in Northamptonshire Police David Spencer* and Richard Cheshire** Abstract This article provides a commentary of Northamptonshire Police's 10 year body worn video (BWV) journey from a small pilot in 2006 to a highly developed position whereby BWV is culturally accepted and embedded across the force ( with the exception of firearms officers). We can describe how a network of respected and influential 'Champions' positively promoted the use of BWV, demonstrated its value through operational use, and provided coaching support Lo drive the cultural acceptance and use. The availability of digital evidence is increasing and is growing in significance, and this brings with it a number of challenges. In order to combat this specific issue, Northamptonshire police have tried to create and maintain a device-agnostic BWV solution, which acknowledges that the technology is rapidly changing and requires flexibility. This is not unique to BWV technology, as these same issues exist in terms of mobile device extraction, CCTV, etc. Through the development and maintenance of their own internal supporting infrastructure, Northamptonshire Police have developed and been able to operate this solution to good effect. This system has benefited many other areas where digital evidence is key, and has permitted us the ability to keep abreast of technological developments, while also being involved in national debate and industry working groups to help influence the progression and development of BWV. The Force operationally uses 10 different makes/models ofcamera that collectively provide a source of digital evidence alongside other 'independent digital witnesses', such as CCTV and mobile phone images. These are also in part stored and managed within the same supporting system. This provides enormous flexibility lo those working within the Force, by permitting evidence to be downloaded at any terminal for investigators to view it at any other force computer, and to potentially share it with other agencies within the criminal justice system. Northamptonshire is a rural county covering 913 This commentary provides an account of how square miles in the heart of England with a popu­ the Force developed its body worn video (BWV) lation of 710,000 residents. Sitting within the East from a small pilot in 2006 to a fully integrated Midlands Region, Northamptonshire Police has an and culturally accepted device-agnostic system in establishment of 1,220 regular officers, 600 special 2016 that may inform other police forces in de­ constables, and 600 members of police staff. veloping their BWV practices. • Chief Inspector, Northamptonshire Police, UK; currently seconded to the College of Policing, UK. He was the senior business user for BWV from January 2012 to November 2016. •• Sergeant, Northamptonshire Police, UK; currently working within the Force E-Forensics Department, UK. He has been the operational lead for BWV since 2010. Advance Access publication: 4 February 2017 Policing, Volume 12, Number l , pp. 11 6-119 doi: 10.1093/police/pax003 © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions please e-mail: [email protected] Body worn video ICommentary l Policing 117 Northamptonshire Police were part1c1pants m that ensured anyone identified as a champion the first trial of BWV in 2006. This pilot involved would represent the values of the BWV group, and the use of 90 head-mounted cameras that were the formal BWV Champions proved essential in introduced to officers across the Force. It is fair to making BWV the success it is now within say that this pilot was not a very successful attempt Northamptonshire. Over time, these briefing sessions to introduce a new technology into the Force that have been transformed into a more formal training officers embraced, nor did it deliver any real oper­ session specifically for the Champions. ational benefits. However, the learning from the In 2010, proposals were developed and accepted experience was vital in how practices were subse­ to develop BWV. The allocated budget of £50,000 quently developed and implemented, that now sees to purchase new cameras and create a small pool of WV) cameras personally issued across the Force that are devices available to officers was obviously import­ dded fully embedded culturally, and regarded as essential ant, but other supporting preparation developed ·ntial as a radio or a pen by many officers and Police from the knowledge gained in 2006 was more sig­ ,jded Community Support Officers (PCSOs). nificant in furthering the use of BWV in 1d is A significant piece oflearning was that the users Northamptonshire. ssue, need to recognise the need for BWV and want to The policies around use were developed from ·dges use it. mme observations ofhow it was being used, and feedback Initial pilots involved head-mounted cameras from users identified that body-mounted cameras shire that officers found uncomfortable to wear, involved were preferable for the majority. A data storage eco­ 1reas wiring that was impractical, or may well have made system was specifically allocated for BWV footage also officers feel self-conscious when patrolling the from the Force's existing IT infrastructure, and this nt of streets with a camera attached to their head. The saw the creation ofa networked storage area where gital supporting technology and administrative pro­ all officers could keep their own personally cap­ ,o in cesses were cumbersome and off-putting. Being king tured videos. It was also designed so that others ,ther required to download evidence to two CDs, (a across the Force could also access the footage via master and working copy) created additional ad­ any connected Force's computer. ministration burdens to officers who just wanted In order to best use the BWV Champions, and at something simple and easy to use. The combination the same time reward them for their support, they 10W ofthe camera design and poor supporting processes were used to help inform the policies and proced­ VV) were sufficient to dissuade the majority ofusers that ures. They were also used as product testers, which 1ted any benefits were not worth the effort and many allowed them access to new and innovative equip­ 1 in cameras were left unused. ment. They then became the trainers as they were de- A minority of users, however, did recognise the heavily involved in all aspects of the project. As an potential future benefits and continued to use the embedded resource, they were then on hand to pro­ cameras on their daily patrols. This small group mote the technology, and also best practice in their were influential in their roles and developed to areas that shifted us towards a culture of become the basis for the BWV Champion's model. acceptance. 1nior The Champions are positive advocates ofBWV, pro­ The development of a simple infrastructure and 1the moting and demonstrating its use to colleagues, pro­ user-friendly practices were pivotal in increasing viding credibility and reassurance to colleagues the awareness, support, and confidence of officers arousing their interest in using the devices. Twice to use BWV, and the Force started to see benefits of yearly briefings were introduced for the Champions B\NV use emerge, primarily a reduction in com­ to update them on new products and the Force's plaints against police. As more cameras became strategic thinking. A selection process was devised available across the Force, we witnessed a pattern 118 Policing JCommentaryJ D. Spencer and R. Cheshire emerge people would follow. Individuals differed in demand from the workforce. More people were the time it would take them to complete the jour­ recognizing the benefits and wanted access to a ney, normally between 12 and 18 months, but the camera. With a catalogue of examples of effective journey was consistent. camera use, it was becoming more difficult for anyone to argue a negative impact of the technol­ 1. I do not want a camera. ogy. Examples were coming from within the organ­ 2. OK, I will have one but I will not use it. isation, as people from across the entire 3. I will use it if I have to. organisation began promoting the technology out­ 4. l cannot patrol without my camera. side ofthe project, due to the very real benefits they 5. Please can I have a better camera. had seen. Teams such as major crime, Child Protection, Hostage Negotiators, CID, Special While individuals progress along the journey at Constabulary, Crime Scene Investigators, Custody their own pace, it was observed but not quantified staff, and police station front counters were all keen that the pace could be quickened by introducing to showcase positive examples.