You will have noticed on-duty police or security officers wearing cameras, and may have thought they were only used by enforcement officers. But did you know that these body worn video cameras are also very effective in the parking industry?

So, what are body worn cameras used for? They are an effective way of empowering your team, allowing them to record a first-person view of what is happening while they work. In many cases, this footage is used in investigations and to provide evidence.

Body worn video cameras are usually worn on the chest, shoulder or hat, and are used to record both video and audio. They can sometimes feature a front-facing screen to show the person being filmed what is being captured. Many body-facing cameras not only record footage, but also encrypt it to protect it, should the camera be stolen or hacked.

5 reasons to use body worn cameras in your car parks

1. Comply with legal requirements

Many councils across the country have mandated the use of body cameras for people working in specific roles. Using body cams allows companies to comply with these laws, and also enables audits and review of high-pressure situations.

2. Protect your team and the public

In an industry or role that can, at times, encounter tricky situations in which the public can react extremely, a body camera offers employees protection during potentially problematic scenarios.

The body camera also gives peace of mind to the general public, showing them that your staff are going to act with integrity and within their legal rights.

3. Identify areas of improvement and training opportunities

By reviewing incident footage, you can clearly identify when a member of your team did well in a high-pressure situation, or how their behaviour might be amended – helping you develop actionable steps to continuously improve your service.

4. Share past case studies with your team

Having real-world examples of a range of scenarios is priceless when creating training materials for your business. Your team can study what happened in different scenarios, with both examples of positive practices and areas for improvement, providing them with a clear vision of how to effectively deliver a better service.

5. Hold your team accountable to a higher level of service

Your team can be empowered and motivated to act with integrity, follow high standards of practice and deliver a better service. This is not only an integral part of identifying areas for improvement, but also a tool to recognise great practice.

Are body worn cameras only for security staff?

No. They can be worn by staff in any appropriate role, at the discretion of the business owner and in consideration of how different sections of staff wearing body worn cameras will be perceived. Although they are primarily used for security staff in most businesses, in the parking industry, body worn cameras are primarily used by car park enforcement officers and managers. 

Are body cameras on all the time?

A common question we are asked by clients is: ‘Are body cameras on all the time?’ And no, they are not intended to be on all the time, but can be started and stopped when an incident is happening, which also complies with privacy regulations. The employee wearing the camera must inform the subject that they are about to be filmed.

What are the regulations for body worn cameras in the UK?

There are no specific regulations as such when it comes to body cameras. There is, however, a code of practice, created by the Surveillance Camera Commissioner and the Information commissioner. This provides valuable information for any business looking to implement the use of body worn surveillance cameras.

This code of practice includes valuable guidance, such as:

• Your team must inform the public when they are being filmed, and why
• All footage must be uploaded and stored securely on an internal system
• Do not hold footage in an unsecured storage location, or in an unencrypted Cloud system
• Footage should not be kept for longer than necessary
• The subject being filmed has the right to see the footage, but must request this within 31 days of the footage being created
• Always keep in mind: selective filming may only show “one side of the story” and may not reveal the full event that transpired.

Recommended Body Worn Cameras
for The Parking Industry

Hytera VM780

Featuring a front facing screen to show what is being recorded, It integrates a body camera with a remote speaker microphone, and allows you to video dispatch/communicate over 3G/4G/Wi-Fi, make voice calls and even initiate an emergency alarm in mission critical conditions.

LEARN MORE HERE