As part of the New Brunswick RCMP's commitment to transparency and accountability with the communities we serve, frontline officers in the Province will soon start wearing body-worn cameras.
Audio and video captured on body-worn cameras will be managed by a digital evidence management system that will store and manage all data recorded.
Starting on November 18, 2024, body-worn cameras will be worn by NB RCMP frontline officers working out of the following detachments:
- Elsipogtog First Nation
- Richibucto
- Saint-Quentin
- Tobique First Nation
Other RCMP detachments in New Brunswick, and across Canada, will have body-worn cameras and the digital evidence management system rolled out to them in a phased approach over the next 12-18 months.
"We welcome the use of body-warn cameras in the Province," says Cpl. Hans Ouellette of the New Brunswick RCMP. "We live and work in a fast-paced, modernized environment, and the addition of this investigative tool is another positive step forward in showing our commitment to accountability and transparency to the communities we serve."
RCMP officers will usually be wearing their body-worn cameras on their chest and the public will know it's recording when a red light is visible and flashing below the lens of the camera. Body-worn cameras will not be used for surveillance, during recorded interviews, or settings with a high expectation of privacy. For more information on body-worn cameras and their use within the RCMP, please visit the following links:
- Body-worn cameras
- RCMP Body-worn camera operational policy
- Body-worn camera frequently asked questions
Body-worn cameras serve as an independent, unbiased, and objective way to capture interactions between the community and police officers, with the goal of increasing trust between police and the communities we serve. It will also help to resolve public complaints and improve evidence gathering for investigative purposes.