Police will be equipped with more than 7,000 body cameras starting September

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 7,648 Body Worn Cameras (BWC) will be supplied in stages to the police force starting in September, says Comm Datuk Wan Hassan Wan Ahmad.

The Bukit Aman Crime Prevention and Community Safety Department director said the Home Ministry issued an acceptance letter on Tuesday (Jan 30) involving the supply of BWC to the police force.

“The BWC will be mainly used by personnel in the Mobile Patrol Vehicle and the Motorcycle Patrol Unit, which are under the department.

“It will also be supplied for duties under the Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department,” he said when contacted on Wednesday (Jan 31).

Comm Wan Hassan said the BWC will be supplied in stages from September 2024 to February next year.

“It will be placed at 157 district police headquarters and 640 police stations nationwide.

“The use of BWC will also be conducted in stages starting in October.

“We believe the patrol unit personnel will fully utilise it by March next year,” he said.

He said training for patrol unit personnel would also be conducted from March 2025 to December.

Comm Wan Hassan said using the BWC will move the police force forward as the sole enforcement agency using the latest technology, in line with modern policing.

“I hope that the BWC will improve good governance regarding crime prevention patrols by the patrol unit personnel.

“It will also alleviate integrity among police officers, enabling them to prevent and reduce wrongdoing while increasing the public’s sense of safety.

“I hope the BWC, attached to police officers’ uniforms, will forge closer ties between the police and society,” he said.

Comm Wan Hassan said the use of the BWC will also improve the police force’s image, as BWC records could be used as evidence in any criminal case, including cases of personnel and officers who were slandered while enforcing the law.