Cork TD calls for rollout of body cameras for gardaí

A Cork TD has called on the garda commissioner to expedite the introduction of body-worn cameras for all members of An Garda Síochána.

The use of body-worn cameras was provided for in the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act 2023 which was signed into law in December 2022.

Currently the ‘proof of concept’ phase for body-worn cameras is ongoing in selected stations in Dublin, Waterford and Limerick.

Speaking in the Dáil recently, justice minister Jim O’Callaghan told Séamus McGrath, Fianna Fáil TD for Cork South Central, there are 600 body-worn cameras in use at the moment.

Gardaí equipped with the cameras are working in five stations, including in Dublin stations, Kevin Street, Pearse Street, and Store Street, and also in Limerick’s Henry Street Station, and Waterford Garda Station.

“The learnings from the proof of concept in Dublin, Limerick and Waterford will inform the national deployment of body-worn cameras and provide more of an insight into how they can impact interactions with gardaí,” he said.

“My priority now is to support An Garda Síochána to move towards a nationwide roll-out of body-worn cameras, and the development of a new digital evidence management system (DEMS).

“The experiences of the gardaí on the ground will be invaluable in informing how best this technology can be rolled out in the future.”

Mr O’Callaghan added that €100m of funding had been provided to equip gardaí with ICT (information and communication technology).

Mr McGrath said he would fully support the Garda Representative Association (GRA) on this issue, after it called for the roll-out of body-worn cameras for all gardaí.

“Body-worn cameras are an essential tool for modern day policing,” he said. “The full rollout should happen as soon as possible and I will be highlighting this issue further.”