Press
South Tyrol is reacting decisively: bus checks with body cameras are intended not only to ensure security, but also to solve violent crimes. A drastic step in local transport.
Bolzano – In South Tyrol, the control staff of the Sasa bus service have been equipped with body cameras since the beginning of May. This comes from one Press release from the autonomous province of Bolzano (Italy). This measure is intended to help increase safety on buses and prevent violent crime.
Public transport safety is the community’s top priority. For this reason, the in-house company Sasa, in collaboration with the state as the client of the bus services, has gradually increased the presence of security personnel: “A bus is not a legal vacuum. “We do everything we can to make traveling on public transport pleasant and safe for passengers,” emphasizes State Mobility Councilor Daniel Alfreider.
New security measure in the Bolzano buses: use of body cameras to prevent escalations
A new addition to these efforts is equipping screening personnel with body cameras. These cameras are intended not only to provide evidence in the event of attacks, thefts or damage, but also to help prevent escalations. SASA President Astrid Kofler explains: “Studies show that this technology can be helpful in operational situations and contributes to de-escalation.”
Data protection and confidentiality should not be neglected. The privacy of passengers is strictly respected, as Sasa AG emphasizes. The recordings from the body cameras are only handled by authorized personnel in accordance with data protection regulations. SASA General Director Ruggero Rossi de Mio adds: “There are only certain authorized people who are allowed to view the material.”
South Tyrol (Italy): Similar measures also in Germany
The question of whether something like this would also be conceivable in Germany doesn’t even arise. Because the train attendants on Deutsche Bahn’s regional trains are also in Hamburg and in the north the possibility of wearing body cameras in the future to improve safety. The reason for this is that the number of attacks in Germany has recently increased: “Like the police, fire brigade and emergency services, we are also feeling more aggressiveness. Disrespect and attacks are increasing everywhere, in parks, on streets and squares as well as in our stations and trains,” explains DB spokeswoman Luise Gunga when asked IPPEN.MEDIA.
“Because the safety of our employees is our top priority, DB Regio is now gradually and on a voluntary basis equipping local transport customer advisors with body cameras on selected routes nationwide. […] The bodycam’s recording function (image only, no sound) is only activated in escalating situations and after a clear announcement,” says Gunga.
In local transport, however, things are different here. Upon request from IPPEN.MEDIA explained Christoph Kreienbaum from the Hamburger Hochbahn: “There are currently no concrete plans to use body cameras at the Hochbahn or the Hochbahn guards who work for us. At the same time, we are in close contact with the responsible authorities and companies in the industry and monitor developments and findings from projects of this type.”
In the police department, the use of such cameras already seems to be helping officers in their work. And supermarkets like Lidl are also toying with the idea of giving their staff a third eye. (ls)
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