Name/Title
Sussex Police Motorola VB400 body worn video camera c2020Entry/Object ID
2507Description
Body worn video unit, with flush camera in top right corner, slide button on the left and flush buttons to from and slide. On the front screen is a label marked "Warning Audio & Video Recording". On rear is a hand written label marked "Dummy Unit Not Working" and on the right side a printed label with a QR code marked "230658". To rear is a star shaped attachment for fixing to a compatible uniform clip.Use
For an officer to record relevant interactions with the public.Context
Following the withdrawal of personal issue body worn video cameras in Sussex Police in the early 2020s, the organisation changed from Reveal Media cameras to Motorola ones. By this time the deciding factor in adopting one system over another was the backroom functionality, in particular the ease with which data captured on units could be transferred into evidence. It was felt that the Motorola system was more suited to Sussex Police's requirements.
As of 2023 Sussex Police is using Motorola VB400 body worn cameras, like the one pictured. Though this is actually a dummy unit, externally it is exactly the same as functioning units. These units constantly record for a short period, before recording over it, to ensure that the beginning of any incident is not missed before an officer has the chance to switch to record. The period used in Sussex was 15 seconds but in November 2023 that was increased to 30 seconds. Once docked any information on a unit is automatically retained on the master system for 30 days, and anything required for evidential purposes would need to be specifically "saved" prior to the end of that period. The master system utilises Geo location technology and for instance will allow an operator to select a date/time and location and select any footage that has been downloaded from any units were in that area at that time. This not only has huge time savings in preserving evidence but ensures that nothing is lost.
Current guidelines regarding what interactions officers and other staff are required to record within Sussex Police, state that it should be anything with a policing purpose. So an officer or staff member does not have to record every interaction with the public, thus ensuring their privacy, but only those within the course of their duties.
At the time of writing the three main supplies of body worn cameras to UK police forces are Motorola, Reveal Media and Axon.