Policing authority says benefits of garda body cameras ‘mixed’

The head of the Policing Authority says studies of the benefits of body cameras for police officers are mixed.

Josephine Feehily said the authority would be guided by the Garda Commissioner on whether there would be a widespread roll out of the cameras.

President of the Garda Representative Association (GRA) Dermot O'Brien has said he would like to see body-worn cameras introduced for gardaí, which are seen as particularly useful for policing protests and domestic violence incidents.

A change in legislation would be required before gardaí could wear video recording devices on their uniform, the association’s annual conference heard last week.

Body worn video which can record close encounters between police officers and the public, and entered as evidence in court, is now the norm in police forces in much of the western world, the association also heard.

Speaking on Limerick Live 95 FM on Monday as she was awarded an honorary doctorate at UL, Ms Feehily said the authority would adopt a wait and see approach to the cameras.

The Policing Authority is an independent body set up to oversee the performance of An Garda Síochána. It was established on January 1st under the Garda Síochána (Policing Authority and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2015.

The authority also has responsibility for nominating people for the roles of Garda commissioner and deputy garda commissioner, and for appointing to ranks including Garda superintendent, chief superintendent and assistant commissioner, and senior Garda civilian staff.