The challenges of bodycam system implementation part 2: Acceptance and support

Maybe you missed it, however this article is part 2 of a series on bodycam implementation, its inherent challenges and how to adress them properly. 

In Part 1 of this series the topics of security and compliance was adressed. In Part 2 we dive into the specifics of acceptance and support from both employees and society.

You can click the link above or to the right to read on about all the security factors and facts that will help you choose the right bodycam system for your organisation.

​Finding common ground for acceptance and support

Gaining widespread support for surveillance systems such as bodycams needs to rest on the general and common benefits for everyone. What do frontline professionals wearing bodycams get out of it? How does it support or help the work of their managers? How can IT security and safety be enhanced? How is legal work supported by bodycam evidence? What are the positives for society in general? All these relevant questions can be asked and must be addressed accordingly. 

An independent fact base on the benefits of bodycams is provided by ZEPCAM at the bottom of the page. Here you will find a cross section of research, results and findings that can be used to increase acceptance and support.

When the first cameras were installed in public and businesses, there were of course concerns about privacy. It required time and consistent messaging to get to where we are today, with widespread acceptance of the benefits for both employees and society as a whole. When we now walk into a jewelry store, we know and accept we will be recorded for good reasons. Research conducted in Belgium (2021) on police bodycams showed how early on there was opposition, but when officers better informed that the bodycam was also there to defend their actions, to increase their safety and to strengthen their evidence reports, the vast majority accepted and supported the implementation of bodycam solutions.

This leads us to the general positive benefits for all organisations and societies where bodycams are becoming widespread:

Prevention and reduction of incidents

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De-escalate/prevent incidents      More safety for staff            Continued service to public

Less incidents and escalations leads to more safety for employees and the public.

Less incidents and escalations leads to more safety for employees and the public.

Better legal outcomes with indisputable video evidence

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Bodycam videos       Secure & compliant evidence    Cost-effective defense & prosecution

Bodycams provide secure, compliant and indisputable evidence to support and defend the work and actions of employees, as well as evidence to easily and cost-effectively prosecute offenders.

Bodycams provide secure, compliant and indisputable evidence to support and defend the work and actions of employees, as well as evidence to easily and cost-effectively prosecute offenders.

Real-time remote support for more effective services

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Realtime overview          Efficient, fast communication         Effective remote support

With the addition of livestreaming capabilities, bodycams now offer a range of extra benefits, from more information available at a distance through livestreams, to efficient communication between the frontline and command & control on developing situations. This results in direct, effective support whenever necessary.

With the addition of livestreaming capabilities, bodycams now offer a range of extra benefits, from more information available at a distance through livestreams, to efficient communication between the frontline and command & control on developing situations. This results in direct, effective support whenever necessary.

What are the benefits of bodycams for specific stakeholders to gain their support and acceptance?

Different stakeholders also have a more specific interest as well as legitimate concerns when bodycam systems are considered. Adressing the common benefits provides the basis for adressing any challenge of bodycam system implementation. For an effective communication strategy, all must be informed about how bodycams can positively contribute to their work. What does the right bodycam system do for the professionals, the managers,  the legal and IT departments, the general public and their politicians and lawmakers?

​Frontline professionals

Key benefits:

• Wearing bodycams prevents and reduces the amount of incidents and escalations
• Merely the presence of bodycams and the chance of video evidence being recorded stimulates good behavior and interactions.
• Bodycam footage also proves professional handling of situations to counter claims on social media of bystanders filming with smartphones
• Livestreaming offers real-time data and efficient support at work and on the street
• With secure, role based video management and logging of activity, employees can rest assured knowing that any data concerning them will be handled in a safe, professional and predetermined manner
• Transparency through bodycam footage that can be redacted for privacy compliance and shared with the public

When given technical and procedural guarantees concerning the proper usage of bodycam data, frontline professionals can trust the system will only be used for predetermined situations and benefits. With safer, better working conditions and the protection of their personal data, acceptance for bodycam systems is increased.

Management

​Key benefits:

• Safer and therefore better working conditions with bodycams for staff results in more employee satisfaction, less turnover and less sick leaves
• Employees can better perform their public service and be more valued by the people they interact with through the transparency and fairness of impartial bodycam observers
• Increased efficiency of less incidents to report, pursue and prosecute with better outcomes through auditable video evidence
• Assurance of compliance with local, national and international privacy laws and regulations for employees and citizens with a configurable and secure bodycam system
• Better protections against data breaches, malfunctions, loss of data or other obstructions of company or organisational processes.
• More actionable data to train new and existing staff, as well as improve best practices

Legal department

Key benefits:

• Colleagues in the field can work safely with efficient support when livestreaming is activated
• Increased efficiency of less incidents to report, pursue and prosecute with better outcomes through auditable video evidence
• Assurance of compliance with local, national and international privacy laws and regulations for employees and citizens with a configurable and secure bodycam system
• Redaction capabilities within the bodycam Video Management System (VMS) allows for quick and efficient protection of privacy and compliance to regulations

IT department

Key benefits:

• Colleagues in the field can work safely with efficient support when livestreaming is activated
• No risks of data breaches through end-to-end encryption, activity logging, secure storage (cloud/on-premise), (2 Factor)authentication controls, roles & rights authorization and watermarked bodycam footage
• With the right professional bodycam system, support and service as well as IT infrastructure: no risks of disruptions or system malfunctions

Public

Key benefits:

• Bodycams help maintain and improve public services and the safety of everyone in the public space
• Less incidents and aggression from other bystanders, more pleasant interactions with frontline professionals and more civilized public space
• With the right professional bodycam system, citizens know that their personal data or footage is protected, inaccessible and compliant with their local laws and regulations
• Bodycam evidence increases transparency and accountability on both sides of the bodycam

Politicians and lawmakers

Key benefits:

• Bodycams in many sectors have a positive societal return on investment (ROI): more safety for the public and officials, better interactions and more evidence for the efficient prosecution of wrongdoers
• Safer streets due to bodycams allow for the maintaining and improving of public services
• Less incidents, escalations and aggression are a net benefit for all in a society
• With the right professional bodycam system, no risk of non-compliance, data breaches, privacy violations and a system that upholds to the highest local, national and international standards of data and privacy protections
• Cost-effective solutions: for less than the cost of a cup of coffee a day, all these benefits for society, organisations and their employees can be realised.

To conclude

There are many benefits of implementing a bodycam solution and many stakeholders internally and externally that need to be informed, involved and convinced of these benefits. This drives the need for clear and consistent communication of the common and the specific benefits for each stakeholder including the general public and their local, regional or national politicians.

With the right bodycam system for your needs, every legitimate question or concern can be answered through the positive improvements to professional and public safety and service with full compliance and protection of data-privacy.

ZEPCAM’s bodycam experts are just a click away and can inform you on all the ins and outs of a suitable professional bodycam system implementation process.