Body-worn cameras
Body-worn cameras are being introduced for use by Council on 30 January 2023.
A body-worn camera is a wearable video recording device which includes a camera, microphone and data storage and are a common tool used by many regulatory and enforcement agencies across New Zealand.
Council staff experience aggression-related incidents in their roles when performing duties such as animal control and parking enforcement.
Body-worn cameras allow us to
- Keep our team and the people they visit / engage with safe.
- Deter verbal threats and physical violence towards our staff.
- Improve transparency and accountability.
- Enable complaints to be fully investigated and resolved.
Body-worn camera footage
- Body-worn cameras are set to record when a situation poses a risk to the safety of our staff and community.
- When recording on private property, or in a commercial building not usually open to the public, staff will advise that the camera is recording and get consent.
- Staff are not required to advise that the body-worn camera is recording or seek consent when in a public place, on private or commercial property usually open to the public, when using a camera mounted on a car dash or when exercising power of entry.
- The body-worn camera has a front-facing screen, so the person being visited can see what is being recorded.
- Body-worn camera footage can be used as evidential material for any incidents.
- The footage is securely stored on Council systems and only a limited number of authorised staff within council can access the footage.
- Requesting body-worn camera footage:
- You can request a copy of footage recorded by a body-worn camera. Council will consider requests on a case-by-case basis, following the Privacy Act 2020 or Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.
- For more information on making a request, visit Official Information Requests
Privacy
Privacy is important to us, and we follow the Privacy Act 2020 in the way we collect, use, store and release body-worn camera footage. Our Privacy Statement reflects the use of body-worn cameras.