Surveillance or safeguard? Police officers’ perceptions and expectations on the use of bodycams

• In Event: Digital Criminology: Control and organized chaos in a ‘digital world’

Abstract

In the contemporary digital landscape, the introduction of bodycams represents a pivotal shift towards enhancing transparency, accountability, and legitimacy within law enforcement agencies. This study, conducted in a Belgian police zone, explores the perceptions and expectations surrounding the deployment of bodycams through a pilot project initiated in November 2022. Through an analysis of thirteen interviews with police officers, this research underscores the complex duality of bodycams. While bodycams may protect officers from unfair complaints or violence by citizens, they can also increase officers' feeling of constant surveillance, potentially compromising their discretionary power. Our findings contribute to the ongoing discourse on the role of surveillance technologies in shaping contemporary policing strategies, offering insights into the delicate balance between surveillance and civil liberties in the digital age.

Authors

• Julie Caluwaerts, Vrije Universiteit Brussel

• Lucas Melgaço, Associate Professor -VUB