Plans for front line council officers to use body worn video cameras while carrying out enforcement duties have been approved.
Members backed a new policy for using the cameras at a South Holland District Council cabinet meeting on Tuesday, November 11.
The policy was developed by the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership – which covers Boston, East Lindsey and South Holland – and it will now be rolled out across the partnership at a later date having already won approval from the other two councils.
The council said the partnership-wide policy has been adopted to help protect the health, safety and wellbeing of council staff.
Coun Paul Redgate, deputy leader of the district council, said: “The policy on body worn video cameras is for council officers whose role involves enforcement responsibilities.
“The use of the video cameras will be highly regulated to make sure that the data collected is stored correctly.”
Coun Redgate, who represents the Whaplode and Holbeach St John’s ward, added that the video cameras will only be used by council officers when it’s “deemed necessary” and to “avoid aggression”.
Coun Allan Beal, who also represents the same ward, added that he thought it was an ‘important policy’.
The district council said that all council officers will receive training on how to use the devices before they are allowed to wear them.
