New notice also establishes that body equipment will no longer record uninterruptedly the entire working day
A PM (Military Police) of São Paulo issued an ordinance that determines that body cameras must be activated in all incidents and approaches. In May, the corporation launched a notice to purchase new recording equipment to be used on police officers’ uniforms.
With the acquisition, the number of cameras should increase from just over 10,000 to 12,000. However, the notice brings several changes to the monitoring system. Among the main changes is that the cameras will no longer record uninterruptedly the entire working day of the police officer, having to be activated by the agent himself or remotely by the PM command.
The time that images are stored has dropped to 30 days, and currently videos are saved for at least 3 months. This period can reach 1 year in cases where the police officer, upon entering a stressful situation, activates the mode that increases the recording quality.
The changes to the monitoring model were criticized by experts and human rights organizations.
“By extinguishing the uninterrupted recording functionality, the Government of the State of São Paulo is compromising the results of the program and wasting public resources”says the note signed by Vladimir Herzog Institutefor the Conectas Human Rights, Brazilian Public Security Forumamong other organizations.
ADEQUACY
The ordinance published by the São Paulo government attempts to adapt the new body camera system to the guidelines established by the Ministry of Justice Public Securitywhich also determine the possibility of accessing resources from the National Public Security and National Penitentiary funds.
At the end of May, the ministry published an ordinance establishing guidelines on the use of body cameras. The guidelines are mandatory for federal public security forces. However, for states and municipalities, adherence is voluntary, although it is crucial to have access to the money made available by the federal government for this type of program.
“The guidelines are in line with the Ordinance No. 648 of 2024 of the Ministry of Justice and Security, as well as other standards of current legislation”states a note from the Government of São Paulo that announced the rules published by the PM.
The ordinance establishes that the equipment must be activated in practically any police activity, from the “selective use of force” until the “preventive patrolling” and in service to “traffic accidents”. The transport of people in the agent’s custody is also included in the moments of mandatory recording.
With information from Brazil Agency.
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