Mumbai traffic cops to wear body cameras

Shiv Kumar

Tribune News Service

Mumbai, January 17

According to sources here, a pilot project under which nearly a hundred cameras were issued to traffic police personnel had yielded good results.

“Footage from the cameras provided evidence of motorists misbehaving with police personnel and they could be nailed in court,” a senior police official said.

The Maharashtra Government had decided to issue body cameras to traffic police personnel after a constable was murdered by an angry motorist last year.

Each camera will cost the state government Rs 38,000 and will be able to store eight hours of footage, including video and audio recording, according to sources.

These cameras will be attached to their uniforms.

Traffic police personnel in Mumbai have already been equipped with e-challan facilities under which fines are collected electronically using credit and debit cards.

Top officials also feel that it would be difficult for police personnel to collect bribes from motorists while wearing body cameras.

Footage from the cameras would be streamed live to the main police control room, according to officials.