When the policeman lashed out with a clenched fist during an arrest in Kongsberg, the whole thing was captured on a video camera. Lawyer Morten Kjensli. Photo: Privat It was probably decisive for the case to end with a charge of violence against the police officer. Now one of the lawyers representing the man who was beaten believes that the police should use so-called body cameras. – If this had happened somewhere else, those who were subjected to that treatment would have had a bigger problem in being believed in their representation of what happened, says Morten Kjensli. He believes body cameras can also be to the police’s advantage. – I think it is an important arrangement. It will help to get a good overview of each individual case. The police also come into all possible situations. Both for their safety and the safety of others, says Kjensli. BEAT: Here, Kevin Simensen (26) is beaten with a clenched fist by the police. Kongsberg’s population wants body cameras Body cameras, also known as “body cams”, are used by the police in several other countries. They are small and compact, and are often attached to the shirt of the police. They record both sound and image. In a survey carried out by Norstat for news, it shows that 68 per cent of the population in Kongsberg think the police in this country should start using body cameras. In the 18–29 age group, the numbers are higher: 80 per cent of men and 75 per cent of women answer “Yes” to having body cameras on the police. In the same survey, 92 per cent answered that they are aware of the violent episode last autumn, where a police officer has been charged. After the incident, another police officer was fined NOK 12,000 for deleting a video from a mobile phone. Facts about the Norstat survey The local survey was carried out by the Norstat Panel and sent out to residents of Kongsberg. 200 responded in the period 01.06-04.06. The margin of error in the survey is +/- 3-6.9. New test for next year Body cameras were tested in a trial scheme in Oslo in 2015. Now the police director confirms that the scheme will be tested again next year. Police director Benedicte Bjørnland says they will prepare a pilot for body cameras this autumn. Photo: Heiko Junge – We will now prepare a pilot in the autumn of 2023, with the aim of having slightly more extensive body camera testing in 2024, says police director Benedicte Bjørnland. During the trial period in 2015, the Oslo police used three cameras for a period of four weeks. These were not switched on all the time, while the videos were encrypted. The project was not continued. Should the police in Norway start using body cameras? Yes No Uncertain Show result In the past, Police Superintendent Trond Kyrre Simensen at the Norwegian Police Academy said that there are both positive and negative aspects to the use of body cameras. – An arrest can look brutal to many, even if it is legitimate. In addition, people can feel monitored when police use body cameras all the time, he said. news has tried to get a statement from both the police in the South-East and the Police Federation. No one has taken a clear position on body cameras, and will therefore not comment on the matter. The South-East police district also says that they will not say anything about such a measure until after the case against the accused policeman has been completed. The video, recorded on a body camera in 2017, shows the minutes before Las Vegas police know where the shooting is coming from. Photos from the LAS VEGAS METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT. May have to change the law to introduce the use of body cameras involves a number of challenges related to privacy. Among other things, it must be decided who will have access to the video images, how they will be stored, and whether sound and images from the entire working day will be recorded. The director of police hopes to have an answer to all of this by next year. – It is possible that this pilot will reveal that there is a need for regulatory development if we are to introduce this permanently, she says. Jan Henrik Mjønes Nielsen in the Data Protection Authority is concerned that the police do a thorough job if they are going to use body cameras. Photo: Ilja C. Hendel Concerned about data processing The processing of the videos and the data that is collected is crucial for this to work, says Jan Henrik Mjønes Nielsen of the Norwegian Data Protection Authority. – In arrests where you are inside other people’s homes, it can be perceived as quite close that the police record what is going on. This affects both perpetrators, victims and third parties, says the senior legal adviser. The Norwegian Data Protection Authority sees that body cameras can be a useful tool for the police, but: – We are concerned that this will collect a lot of data that will be left with the police, he says. Hello! Welcome to dialogue at news. Since you are logged in to other news services, you do not have to log in again here, but we need your consent to our terms of use for online dialogue
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The population wants body cameras – the police will test it – news Oslo og Viken – Local news, TV and radio
