An investigation by the Police Ombudsman’s Office has found that more than 70 Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officers watched body camera footage of a drugs arrest for “entertainment and amusement”. The footage showed an individual being arrested for illegal drug possession. Officers accessed the footage 248 times across 20 police stations between 2019 and 2022, with one officer watching it 21 times. The investigation found that the footage was accessed largely “without legitimate purpose.”
The Police Ombudsman’s Office has taken “management action” against the 74 officers responsible for watching the footage, aimed at improving their conduct. Additionally, another officer is currently under investigation for potential criminality concerning the material. Hugh Hume, Chief Executive of the Police Ombudsman’s Office, criticised the officers who viewed the footage for showing “little regard for the privacy of the man being arrested, nor for the emotional wellbeing of their colleague featured in the video.”
Hume said officers’ responses to reasons for accessing the video suggested that they were unaware of the potential for criminal or misconduct offenses. Hume stated that it is “imperative” that body-worn footage is “only accessed for lawful policing purposes.” He believes the “management action” approach was a “reasonable and proportionate outcome.” The PSNI has accepted three recommendations made by the Police Ombudsman to address misuse of body-worn video, but rejected the suggestion of a random review.
Deputy Chief Constable Chris Todd said that the PSNI has measures in place to “ensure the officers are aware of their responsibilities regarding the legislative requirements relating to acceptable use and Data Protection implications of viewing body-worn footage.” He added that the force would “continue to keep procedures and policies regarding access to body-worn video under continuing review.
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