Body Worn Video Cameras

The Body Worn Video (BWV) camera is a digital device used by South Wales Police to help detect and prevent crime and protect the public.

It is used to capture all video footage which could be used for evidence.

The BWV camera is worn by South Wales Police officers on the upper chest and is clearly visible to all. It has a front facing screen which provides an officer with a perspective of an incident or scene when reviewing the footage. When turned on the light is red.

Officers activate their cameras at the start of an incident or encounter, and under normal circumstances will continue to record until it's no longer 'proportionate or necessary'. 

The BWV can stream live providing real time situational awareness to help officers make effective decisions.

All officers and staff must be fully trained before using the BWV. It is used in compliance with relevant legislation and national guidance and consent is not required from person(s) being filmed.

Why are Body Worn Video (BWV) cameras used?

The BWV camera is a tool worn by the police and used in operational policing to gather digital evidence and to:

• Make best use of Body Worn Video technology to detect and prevent crime
• Increase crime detection rates by improving quality of evidence
• Ensure BWV is used in compliance with relevant legislation and national guidance.
• Increase public trust and confidence in our service
• Reduce court appearances through effective early gathering of evidence
• Enhance operational decision making when dealing with incidents through live streaming.

Use of Body Worn Video cameras

Body worn video cameras are used to record only the areas and persons necessary to obtain evidence and intelligence relevant to the incident, in accordance with data protection and Human Rights legislation.

BWV devices are normally always powered on and then switched to record by ALL persons present when footage might support 'professional observation' or would corroborate electronic pocket notebook entries and / or statements.

Ordinarily the BWV user will record entire encounters from beginning to end without the recording being interrupted. Users MUST not indiscriminately record entire duties or patrols. Recordings must be incident specific (whether the recording is ultimately required for use as evidence). The decision to record or not to record an incident arrest with the BWV user, unless mandated by policy. Users should record incidents whenever they invoke a police power.

These are some examples of when the BWV is used:

• stopping a vehicle
• going somewhere to arrest someone
• searching a property, land, or a vehicle
• performing a stop and search
• attending a critical incident
• using force against someone or someone's property
• attending a domestic abuse response.

About the Body Worn Video camera

The BWV cameras used by South Wales Police, are made by Reveal Find out more about the cameras on their website.