Police Body-Worn Cameras in Response to Domestic and Family Violence: A Study of Police Perceptions and Experiences

Abstract

Over the last five years, body-worn cameras (BWCs) have been embraced by Australian police agencies as a mechanism to improve responses to domestic and family violence (DFV). Yet, little is known about their use and potential merits in DFV specific applications. Addressing this deficit, we present findings from the first national study exploring BWC use in DFV incidents in Australia. Drawing on 452 survey responses from the Queensland Police Service (QPS) and Western Australian Police Force (WAPOL), this chapter firstly offers insights into the frequency and contexts of BWC use in DFV responses and generalist policing operations. We then examine how demographics and employment history shape officer’s views about the potential for BWCs to transform public perceptions of police levels of transparency and accountability in DFV responses, and public confidence in procedural fairness in police decision-making. Ultimately, we find a high frequency of BWC deployment in DFV incidents in both specialist and generalist policing responses, and that specialist DFV officers were more optimistic about the potential benefits of BWCs than non-specialists. We contend that ongoing investigation of BWCs is essential to review and realise the future impacts of this technology in the aid of justice for victim/survivors of DFV.