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The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has introduced dash-cams in police vehicles for the first time as part of a trial initiative. This pilot scheme, currently active in the Newry, Mourne and Down policing district, involves ten police cars equipped with the new technology throughout the month of December. The decision follows a marked increase in attacks involving police vehicles being deliberately rammed across Northern Ireland.
In the past year alone, more than 100 PSNI cars were subjected to ramming incidents, with 17 of these occurring specifically in the Newry, Mourne and Down area. These attacks have had a significant impact on police resources; since January, over 20 police vehicles have been taken out of service for repairs, costing the force approximately £140,000. Superintendent Lynne Corbett, the district commander for Newry, Mourne and Down, emphasized the seriousness of this issue, stating, “The deliberate ramming of police vehicles constitutes a serious and continuing threat to our frontline operational capability.”
Currently, some police vehicles are equipped with roof-mounted cameras, which help record footage usable in investigations and court cases, but on-board dash-cams have not been standard. Supt Corbett explained that the introduction of dash-cams will provide valuable evidence-based intelligence, which will help reduce officer injuries and vehicle damage. Additionally, she noted that the technology would bolster operational resilience and clearly communicate that assaults using vehicles as weapons will not be tolerated.
A police officer who experienced a vehicle ramming firsthand described the ordeal as “an extremely scary and traumatising experience to go through.” This particular episode occurred in October while responding to reports of a suspected drunk driver. The officer recounted how, upon activating emergency lights and sirens, another vehicle suddenly collided at speed with their patrol car. The impact sent their vehicle crashing into a member of the public’s car and eventually striking a van near the border. Multiple people, including two officers and several civilians, were injured in this incident. The patrol car involved remains under repair. This incident highlights the critical need for such technological measures to both protect officers and improve accountability in such dangerous confrontations
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