November 20, 2024
Surrey, B.C. – Below is a statement from NPF President and C.E.O. Brian Sauvé following the ongoing national rollout of body-worn cameras for RCMP Members in various detachments across Canada.
“The National Police Federation has long advocated for the use of body-worn cameras (BWCs) for our Members across Canada. For years, we have been involved in negotiations to get the necessary funding and policies in place and fully support the national rollout of this initiative.
Body-worn cameras will support transparency, trust, evidence collection, and community relations between police officers and the public. They will also be effective in supporting our Members when their actions are called into question and in improving the investigation process for oversight agencies across Canada.
Our Members have been waiting for the rollout of the BWCs and are looking forward to having the proper tools to capture unbiased interactions they have with the public. RCMP Members and all police have become very familiar with public scrutiny, we believe that these cameras will allow for increased transparency and trust between our Members and the people they serve.
We are committed to working with RCMP Divisions across Canada to ensure that thorough policies and training are put in place and that the cameras do not add any extra work to our already overworked and under-resourced Members.
While BWC’s are not a panacea for any and all issues regarding police interactions with the public, we look forward to having another tool available to our Members, the RCMP, and civilian oversight agencies.”
About the National Police Federation
The National Police Federation (NPF) represents ~20,000 RCMP Members serving across Canada and internationally. We are the largest police union in Canada. The NPF is focused on improving public safety for all Canadians, including our Members by advocating for much-needed investment in the public safety continuum. This includes investments in police resourcing and modern equipment, as well as social programs including health, addiction, and housing supports to enhance safety and livability in the many communities we serve, large and small, across Canada.
Media contact:
Sarah Kavanagh
Communications and Media Relations Advisor
[email protected]
