A report on the body cameras provided to the parking services operations was given to Saskatoon’s committee on planning, development, and community services. It included some preliminary findings.
After several safety incidents were recorded in 2019, the body cam initiative was put into motion. In March 2021, 23 cameras were acquired for front-line employees.
Employees that work in parking services write parking tickets, bring legal papers to court, and boot and seize vehicles.
According to the data dated October 17, a total of 88 incidents were documented between 2017 and August 2022.
One event in 2019 required the hospitalisation of two parking enforcement agents, and of those 88 instances, 21 required police action and 23 were labelled as assaults.
There were 17 incidences between January and August of this year, five of which were considered assaults and three of which called for police assistance.
According to the research, there hasn’t been a discernible decrease in incidents or police assaults since the adoption of body cameras, but a more thorough review would probably start to indicate one.
According to a study of city and parking enforcement personnel, most people who wear body cameras feel safer and favour their ongoing use.
According to the report, other than the cost of adding more cameras, there were no additional costs associated with owning the 23 body cams, which were purchased for about $2,700.
Additionally, it was mentioned that footage captured by the body cameras might be utilised in bylaw court to support cases involving parking violations and any criminal offences that might have been captured during an encounter.
Early data from Saskatoon bylaw’s body camera programme reveals no reduction in incidents.
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