Govt to put body cams on immigration, prison officers too

 

PARLIAMENT | The Home Ministry aims to expand the use of body cameras to all enforcement agents under its purview and not just the police.

Deputy Home Minister Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said this was part of efforts to improve the integrity of enforcement officers who deal with the public.

Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat this morning, Shamsul (above) said the agencies that the ministry plans to equip with body cameras are the Immigration Department, Prisons Department, National Anti-Drugs Agency, and the Maritime Enforcement Agency.

As for police use of body cameras, Shamsul said the Home Ministry and the police force have come up with a standard operating procedure and would be training officers to use the devices soon.

He said 157 police districts nationwide and 7,648 officers have been involved in the process thus far.

However, it is unclear how many cameras have already been procured, if any.

Last week, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the required specifications for the cameras to be procured are still being determined.

However, he had called on their use to be fast-tracked.

Meanwhile, to a follow-up question from Tan Kar Hing (Pakatan Harapan-Gopeng) on whether body camera footage could be used in court, Shamsul replied in the affirmative.

"All the elements are important to ensure the credibility of the police is protected," he said. - Mkini