The Israel Police recently completed the implementation and training process for the body camera project: starting today (Wednesday), police officers will wear a camera on their uniforms and will be able to document their activities, as necessary, according to a procedure formulated by the police.
The pilot will begin in the first phase among patrol and traffic police officers at a number of selected stations. The selected stations are: within the Ayalon region, Zevulun stations, Petah Tikva and Beer Sheva stations - and the traffic unit in the southern region.
As part of the AMON (Prevention Strategy and Management Focus) program led by the Police Commissioner, another unique step has been taken, in which the police are consulting with the public regarding how to operate the cameras.
Want more news, videos and stories? Join the Haredim 10 WhatsApp channel >>
To this end, a dedicated website is being developed that is accessible to the public online - and reveals to them the police operating procedure at the very beginning of the pilot, in order to hear their opinion and examine improvements to the procedure.
The Ministry of Public Security has already budgeted 40 million NIS for computer infrastructure for the project and equipment for the activity.
Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan: "The body camera project is groundbreaking on a global scale, as no national police force has equipped all of its field officers with cameras that record their activities.
""I am certain that the project will increase public trust in the police and will both moderate the behavior of the police and influence the attitude of citizens towards the police on the street.".
Police Commissioner: "So far, everyone has filmed the policeman and he is the only one who did not. Every video that has been uploaded to the Internet has shown every possible film, except for the 'film' that the policeman saw when he exercised his police authority. In order to examine the policeman's behavior, this is the only relevant film.".
The technological scope of the project, from the number of cameras to the means of unloading and storage in a secure server farm, is considered among the most advanced in the world, and the camera's specifications require optimized photography and storage resolutions, a wide lens range, durability, long battery life, secure loading and unloading of material, accompanied by a required control and monitoring system. .
