By Tom Martin
Police officers in Scotland have already recorded hundreds of videos following the launch of body-worn cameras.
Chief Constable Jo Farrell revealed that nearly 200 were uploaded within the first 24 hours of the national rollout, which began in Tayside last month.
The force hopes the move will cut complaints as it tackles a backlog under Operation Glade, with extra officers and civilian investigators brought in.
More than 10,500 Home Office-approved Motorola Solutions VB400 cameras will be issued to frontline officers, from constable to inspector ranks, as well as police custody staff across Scotland over the next 12 to 18 months.
The first 750 Tayside-based officers started receiving the equipment in March after years of delays due to technical issues and cost concerns.
Updating the Scottish Police Authority’s (SPA) board on deployment, Farrell said the move will “transform policing in Scotland”.
She said: “We know the rollout of mobile devices has a positive impact on safety, wellbeing, efficiency, and public confidence.
“Body-worn video can help to deescalate incidents, improve public trust in policing, reduce complaints, and support officer and staff safety.
“It will improve the quality of the evidence presented in court, helping to deliver faster justice for victims and reduce court times for victims, witnesses, and police officers.
“I can report that in the first 24 hours, we have uploaded almost 200 pieces of evidence, and we now have trained in the region of 250 to 300 officers.”
Cameras are set to be introduced in the Highlands and islands, as well as the north-east, over the summer, followed by the east of the country in the autumn.
The full rollout will not be completed until June 2027.
All frontline uniformed officers, including special constables, will wear a camera while on duty and activate it when using police powers, such as stop-and-search, arrests, or executing search warrants. Custody suite officers will also wear cameras when interacting with detainees.
“Body-worn video can help to deescalate incidents, improve public trust in policing, reduce complaints, and support officer and staff safety”
Chief Constable Jo Farrell
Last month, 1919 revealed that the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC) suggested officers begin recording as soon as they are deployed or assigned to an inquiry, rather than only when using their powers.
While footage may be used as evidence, it will not replace existing procedures for gathering all available information. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) will continue to review and determine evidence competence on a case-by-case basis.
Video footage will be uploaded to secure police systems, with evidence shared with COPFS via the new Digital Evidence Sharing Capability (DESC) system.
The national rollout was a key recommendation of former lord advocate Lady Elish Angiolini’s 2020 review of police complaints.
As of February, Police Scotland had 1,340 unresolved non-criminal complaints, including seven high-priority cases.
Between August last year and February, Police Scotland recorded 4,496 new complaints, resolving 1,717 and closing a total of 4,784 cases.
Katharina Kasper, chair of the SPA’s complaints and conduct committee, described the backlog as an “ongoing area of concern”.
However, she noted a “substantial uplift” in resources for the Operation Glade taskforce, with additional staff brought in to address complaints “in a timely and appropriate manner”.
Deputy Chief Constable Alan Spiers said workforce modernisation and the recruitment of civilian investigators will help the force “make some real inroads” in dealing with complaints.
He added: “I think it would be lost on everyone if I didn’t highlight the rollout of body-worn video and complaints, both in terms of handling and reducing the number of complaints, and then supporting the work.
“That purpose cannot be understated, and we should start to see the benefits and impact pretty much immediately.”