The police and fire brigade are now on the move with 300 bodycams

Created: 05/12/2022 13:14

Iris Spranger takes part in a press conference.

© Fabian Sommer/dpa/archive image

The Berlin police and fire brigade are now equipped with a total of 300 so-called bodycams.

This expanded the test operation, which began in August 2021 with 30 of the small cameras on the uniform, as Interior Senator Iris Spranger (SPD) and Police President Barbara Slowik said on Monday.

Police officers and firefighters are to use the devices to film situations that develop aggressively.

Berlin - This is intended to deter aggressive mobs and attackers and calm the situation.

The videos can also serve as evidence.

The police received 250 bodycams, which are to be used more intensively across all police stations in Berlin.

There were 50 cameras for the firefighters.

This means that the Berlin fire brigade is a pioneer in Germany, it said it doesn't exist anywhere else.

In the previous test run in Berlin, the 30 cameras were only triggered 121 times from September 2021 to autumn 2022.

Slowik spoke of "initial reluctance" and the necessary technical improvements that have now been clarified.

The extension of the test run was therefore also delayed.

In other federal states and by the federal police, the body cams have been used for years.

Police officers and firefighters are repeatedly exposed to bullying and attacks, especially in large cities.

dpa