Due to shortage of CCTV cameras in the city, Delhi Police will soon get body cameras to record the movements in the area where they are deployed.

Delhi Police have been planning to buy these body cameras since long and recently, the Delhi Commission for Women has also asked the Delhi Police to start using these cameras.

A senior official told Mail Today that recently DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal wrote to Delhi Commissioner of Police Amulya Patnaik suggesting that officers on duty wear body cameras. The commission also said that the funds for this pilot project can be taken from the Nirbhaya Fund.

According to sources, Delhi Police are planning to buy at least 1,000 body cameras and more will be ordered as per the need.

These cameras can be attached to the uniform of the cop and it could record each movement till the time they are on duty.

"After these cameras are bought, initially these cameras will be issued to the cops deployed at the outskirts of the national Capital. As per the crime analysis report, the movement of dreaded criminals is higher in the outskirts area. Also, the gangs active in the city has movements in the border areas," said a senior officer.

These gadgets are going to be high-end cameras with night vision. The tentative cost of these cameras will be between USD $200 to $500 (approx. Rs 13,000-30,000) depending upon the resolution and operation.

Another senior officer claimed that the motive behind using the body cameras is to keep a tight vigil in the sensitive areas and crime-prone areas.

NEED FOR MONITORING

The officer said the Delhi government has not installed adequate number of CCTV cameras in the city and there is an utter need of monitoring and recording the events for the security purposes. However, as per the women's commission, these body cameras must be used to reduce the cases of police misconduct.

According to the sources, in the letter written by DCW, a reference of a study conducted in the US was given that says the use of body cameras significantly reduces the chances of police misconduct. Recording police-citizen encounters tends to significantly improve functioning of police officers as it increases accountability.

Sources in the department also said these cameras will also be given to the policemen in the PCR vans and those dealing with matters related to crimes against women should be asked to use the body cameras.

Delhi Police are also planning to purchase similar cameras mounted on cars and motorcycles to record violations on the move.

Mail Today had earlier reported about the shortage of CCTV cameras in the city because of which the cops are planning to integrate over 1.8 lakhs CCTV cameras that are already installed by the residential welfare and market association with the local police stations.

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