How long do police keep body camera footage

Police departments around the world are increasingly using body cameras to capture footage of officers’ interactions with the public. But what happens to that footage after it’s captured? How long do police keep it, and what happens to it if there is a lawsuit or other investigation? In this article, we’ll explore the different policies around the world on how long police keep body camera footage.

How body camera footage is used

In the United States, body camera footage is considered a public record in most states. That means that anyone can request footage from a police department, and the department must provide it if it exists. The footage can be used as evidence in criminal and civil cases, and it can also be used by news organizations to hold police accountable for their actions.

In the United Kingdom, body camera footage is considered police evidence. That means that it can be used in criminal prosecutions, but it can’t be released to the public unless a court orders it. The footage can also be used by the police department to investigate complaints against officers.

But in other countries, such as Australia and New Zealand, there is no set time limit on how long the footage is kept.

What happens to the footage after it’s no longer needed?

In the United States, body camera footage that is no longer needed for an investigation or prosecution is typically destroyed. That means that the footage can’t be used in a civil lawsuit or to hold police accountable for their actions. In the United Kingdom, body camera footage is typically kept for 30 days after it’s captured, unless it’s needed for an investigation. After that, it’s destroyed.

Body camera footage in the USA

In the United States, there is no federal law mandating how long police must keep body camera footage. It is up to each individual state and police department to set their own policies. Some states, like Florida, have laws mandating that police keep body camera footage for a certain period of time (in Florida’s case, at least 60 days). Other states have no such laws, and it is up to the individual police departments to decide how long to keep the footage.

There has been some debate in the United States over whether or not body camera footage should be considered public record. Currently, there is no federal law mandating that body camera footage be made public, though some states have laws requiring it. In 2016, the U.S. Department of Justice released guidance recommending that police departments make body camera footage available to the public upon request, but this is not a requirement.

If there is an investigation into an officer-involved shooting or other incident captured on body camera footage, that footage may be released to the public as part of the investigation. But once the investigation is over, the footage may no longer be available to the public.

Body camera footage in Canada

In Canada, there is no federal law mandating how long police must keep body camera footage. It is up to each individual police department to set its own policy.

Body camera footage in the UK

In the United Kingdom, police are required by law to keep body camera footage for at least 31 days. This requirement was put in place in 2016, after a series of high-profile incidents in which police were accused of using excessive force. The 31-day period gives investigators enough time to review the footage and decide whether or not to launch an investigation.

However, this requirement is not always followed. In 2017, it was revealed that police in England and Wales had deleted more than 1.5 million hours of body camera footage, some of which was from incidents in which officers used force.

In Scotland, there is no legal requirement for how long police must keep body camera footage. However, the Scottish Police Federation has recommended that footage be kept for at least 90 days.

Body camera footage in Australia

In Australia, there is no national policy on how long police must keep body camera footage. However, most police departments have a policy of retaining footage for at least 30 days. Some states, like Victoria, have laws mandating that police keep body camera footage for a certain period of time (in Victoria’s case, at least 90 days).

Conclusion

Policies on how long police must keep body camera footage vary around the world. In the United States, there is no federal law mandating how long police must keep body camera footage, though some states have laws requiring it. In the United Kingdom, police are required by law to keep body camera footage for at least 31 days. And in Australia, most police departments have a policy of retaining footage for at least 30 days.

The decision of how long to keep body camera footage is often a balancing act between ensuring that evidence is preserved and avoiding the unnecessary retention of data. With the increasing use of body cameras by police departments around the world, this debate is likely to continue.