Police carry cameras for safety
AN INCREASING number of Whitsunday police officers now carry personal recording devices while on the beat.
The video cameras come in a range of forms and can include something visible on the officer's lapel or can be hidden in a pen.
Whitsunday police sergeant Barry Haran said a lot of the new officers preferred to have these devices while on duty and chose to buy them themselves.
“It is a measure of recording everything they do and can demonstrate it first hand,” he said.
“It is for evidence purposes and to protect them.
“It is a measure of protecting ourselves against vexatious complaints.
“It seems to be more and more common around here.”
The cameras were mentioned in a number of cases heard in the Proserpine Magistrate's court on Monday.
Police prosecutor sergeant Sabine Scott made reference to the use of personal cameras in her briefs of evidence.
These devices were used particularly during schoolies patrols in November.
