Mounties will not be wearing body cameras anytime soon.
The national police service has announced it is postponing a force-wide rollout until “available technology can meet its specific operational requirements.”
READ MORE: Canadian police forces moving towards costly body cameras
The RCMP would need to distribute thousands of units to be distributed across more than 750 detachments but has yet to find a product it is confident it is justified in spending taxpayer dollars on, an RCMP statement read.
Limited battery life as well as lack of camera durability were noted as issues with the devices.
The cameras record audio and video between officers and the public, and can aid in investigations, the RCMP statement notes.
The cameras also improve transparency and accountability among law enforcement, according to a report from former Supreme Court of Canada justice Frank Iacobucci.
A pilot project has been underway for the last three years to test out various Body Worn Camera (BWC) models in the field.
READ MORE: RCMP back to the drawing board on body-worn cameras
“As a modern police force, the RCMP recognizes the importance of constantly researching new equipment to be used in operational settings, and we will continue to assess new BWC technologies as they become available” RCMP Deputy Commissioner Kevin Brosseau, Contract and Aboriginal Policing, said in the statement.
The RCMP has been working with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner to assess proper use of such devices.
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