The use of body worn cameras in police work in Poland – new findings.

• In Event: POL Panel 7. Police and the use of body-worn video

Abstract

Polish police bought the first body worn cameras (BWC) in 2018. According to Police Headquarters in 2023 there were 5857 BWC in use in Poland. Although there is a lot of research on the ways and effects of using BWC in the work of law enforcement agencies in other countries, there is a lack of such research in Poland. The aim of project Body-worn cameras in policing and criminal justice (NCN OPUS 2021/41/B/HS5/02988) is to analyze the real impact which body worn cameras have on police work. This presentation focuses on the newest data which the research team gathered on the use of body worn cameras, the amount of complaints against law enforcement officers, the number of incidents where a police officer was injured or insulted before introducing cameras and after starting to use BWC.

Authors

• Magdalena Tomaszewska-Michalak, Faculty of Political Science and International Studies

• Paweł Waszkiewicz, Faculty of Law and Administration

• Łukasz Kuliński, University of Warsaw