The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) expects officers from three regions across the country to begin field testing body-worn cameras in the coming days.
RCMP members in Nova Scotia, Nunavut and Alberta will see images captured by cameras uploaded to a digital evidence management system. Sound will also be picked up.
The RCMP says up to 300 body cameras will be deployed at these locations.
The field trials will serve to inform the broader use of body cameras in RCMP detachments across the country.
That nationwide rollout isn’t expected for another 18 months, but the RCMP says when that happens it will be the norm for constables to wear the cameras when working on the front lines.
Police say the cameras can help build trust between law enforcement and communities because the footage captured provides an authentic lens into interactions between officers and the public.
Earlier this year, the Alberta government announced that body-worn cameras would become mandatory for all officers working in the province.
The RCMP announced an operational policy for cameras last October and estimated that 10,000 to 15,000 cameras will be deployed across the country.
Acting RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme said in a statement that Canadians are rightly demanding greater accountability from the RCMP and that the force is taking steps to build trust.
“The deployment of body-worn cameras for RCMP officers is one more step towards building a more modern and accountable RCMP,” he said.
Public Security Minister Marco Mendicino said in a statement that transparency and accountability are key to maintaining trust in law enforcement.
He said the RCMP’s decision “will help it build trust with the communities it serves.”