Operational Manual – Appendix 25-5-1 Internal Access to Body-Worn Video Recordings

New appendix: 2022-10-12

1. General

   1. Authorization to access body-worn video is limited, and defined by specific circumstances. An individual can access body-worn video or images in cases where:
      1. they are a member who captured the body-worn video or images.

         Note

         Members have access to their own body-worn video or images in the Digital Evidence Management System.

      2. they are a member who was present when the body-worn camera captured the body-worn video or images.
      3. the member who captured the body-worn video or images is under their supervision.

         Note

         Supervisors are able to access any body-worn video or images that were captured by members who were under their supervision in the Digital Evidence Management System.

      4. they are a member who is higher in the chain of command than the member whose body-worn camera captured the body-worn video or images, and they have a legitimate investigative or administrative reason to view the body-worn video or images.
         1. Access to the body-worn video or images is requested from the divisional body-worn camera coordinator.
      5. they are a member who is part of an investigation that is directly related to the body-worn video or images, and they have a legitimate investigative reason to view the body-worn video or images.
         1. Access to the body-worn video or images is requested from the divisional body-worn camera coordinator.
      6. they have a reason to view the body-worn video or images for any other investigative purposes.
         1. The divisional body-worn camera coordinator provides approval for the body-worn video or images.
      7. they are a member who is responsible for evaluating the potential use of a body-worn video or image for training purposes, or for evaluating the effectiveness of approved use-of-force techniques.
         1. The divisional body-worn camera coordinator provides approval for the body-worn video or images.
      8. they are a member who is performing a role with conduct authority in a conduct investigation.
         1. The officer in charge of the divisional unit responsible for conduct investigations provides approval for the body-worn video or images.
            1. The officer in charge forwards the request to the divisional body-worn camera coordinator, and sends a copy to the National Police Federation. The divisional body-worn camera coordinator then locates the requested body-worn video or image, and provides access to the body-worn video or images to the investigator.

               Note

               Access to a body-worn video or image is automatically captured and tracked in an audit log, which includes the member's regimental number, and the time and date that the body-worn video or image was accessed in the Digital Evidence Management System.