Video Cameras on Police Cars
The cases of use of excessive force by the police against the citizens have been a subject of concern for many years. This has caused an enmity like the relationship between the police and the citizens as they are taken to be bad. The police department, therefore, instituted the use of cameras on police cars dashboards and even on their clothes to improve this situation. The use of cameras on car dashboards has many benefits.
The first benefit is that it has improved transparency and provide evidence for everything that happens around the scene. For example, the footage of the cameras showed the robbery of an M2vehicle near Fordsburg in Johannesburg. The images of the perpetrators were circulated in social media as it could clearly show everything that happened (Exclusive, 2015). Police Spokesman Makgale says that it is helpful mostly in such emergencies.
It also promotes the safety of the citizens against police brutality. This is essential especially when the police used mishandling people by use of excessive force. One of the incidences, when cameras proved helpful, is when a video of the murder of Andries Tatane a protester was shown (The Conversation, 2015). The police killed him, and these videos were shown even on CNN.
The other importance is that it is useful in training the police. The videos have been used in various police stations to display the good and bad behaviors of police who are on the field. This is used for both recruits and also those who are already working. For example, the footages are used to assess the response to a specific situation. This has aided them in identifying areas that require improvements as they can see the areas which they could have done better.
Reference
Exclusive. 2015. SAPS Considers Dash and Body Cameras for Police Officers. South-Africa. Retrieved from: DOI https://www.enca.com/south-africa/exclusive-saps-consider-dash-and-body-cams-police-officers
The Conversation. 2015. South Africa Mulls Body Cameras to Improve Police Accountability, Safety. South Africa.theconversation.com. Retrieved from: DOI; https://theconversation.com/south-africa-mulls-body-cameras-to-improve-police-accountability-safety-47286