State-of-the-art tech delivered to Townsville police

The Queensland Police Service is rolling out new body-worn cameras, with Queensland Minister for Police Mark Ryan and Acting Deputy Commissioner Mark Wheeler on hand in Townsville to showcase the new tech.

The state-of-the-art cameras boast impressive capabilities, including the option to live-stream interactions and feed information back to specialist or higher-ranking police in real time.

Minister Ryan said the new technology was among the first of its kind to be rolled out.

“This is a world-leading initiative, fit for our world-class police service.

“The live streaming capabilities of these vests means we are able to get clear, accurate information as an emergency situation unfolds,” Ryan said.

The technology has already proven successful, including during a recent siege situation on Magnetic Island where a police negotiation coordinator managed the on-scene negotiator response without having to travel to the Island via ferry.

“The negotiator livestreamed into the body worn cameras of negotiators on-scene, and was able to give the best advice to those officers as the siege unfolded,” Ryan said.

“This is life-saving technology that strengthens the response of our police, to ensure we can make quick and accurate decisions at the touch of a button.”

More than 12,000 high-tech cameras will be rolled out within the financial year under the government’s $3 billion police budget. Over 600 cameras have been distributed to Townsville police since May.

Acting Deputy Commissioner Wheeler said the cameras’ capability took policing in Queensland to a new level.

“This is just an extra tool in the tool-belt of our officers, to ensure we can best protect the public,” Wheeler said.

“Having this technology allows our on-scene crews to utilise advice from teams off-scene, in an instant.”

Image credit: iStock.com/chameleonseye