Cyprus police officers to start wearing body cameras on duty

Local camerasparliamentpolicepolice officerstechnologyTop News Cyprus police officers to start wearing body cameras on duty Cyprus Police Officers To Start Wearing Body Cameras On Duty Relevant News Cyprus police officers to start wearing body cameras on duty 4 August 2026 Study confirms Cyprus nursing shortage, with deficit set to persist 4 August 2026 Things to do on Tuesday, August 4 4 August 2026 Michalis Hadjivasilis 4 August 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber Tenders for the purchase of body-worn cameras for police officers‘ uniforms, to record every serious incident on the streets or during operations, will be announced soon. According to a study that was carried out, the first phase will see more than 1,000 body cameras purchased and distributed to front-line officers, meaning uniformed police who have daily contact with the public. The system is expected to cost around €2 million, a figure that includes the software in which recorded material will be logged for processing. The Ministry of Justice and Public Order moved quickly after Parliament passed the relevant law last March, so that the cameras can serve as another tool against lawlessness, help ensure police actions aren’t disputed by citizens, and help prevent any instances of arbitrary conduct by police against citizens. According to information obtained by Phileleftheros, the technical terms of the tender are ready, and the relevant documents will be sent out soon through the usual procedure so the project can be tendered. It remains to be clarified whether police will also proceed with a separate tender for vests to hold the cameras, or whether they will be fitted to existing equipment. Officers are expected to be properly trained before wearing the cameras on the streets, and it is a legal obligation for citizens to be warned before a camera is activated. According to the same information, police will at a later stage purchase further cameras so that all officers in departments carrying out checks, or who come into contact with people during investigations or public events, are covered. Under the law, police may also install cameras, marked or unmarked, in their vehicles to record any chase or incidents that occur on the roads. When cameras can be activated Under the law’s provisions, activating a body camera to record audio and video is permitted only in the following cases: Arrest and/or search of a person Chase of any person or vehicle Stopping a person or vehicle for search, including carrying out that search, and for reporting any offence under Republic law Entering a place to conduct a search, including carrying out that search Police arriving at the scene of an offence Riots and mass incidents of violence Under the law, “high-risk operations” are defined as situations reasonably considered dangerous, volatile, unpredictable or fragile, including, among others, a terrorist incident, kidnapping, armed robbery, an exchange of gunfire, riot suppression, riots, mass violent incidents and the execution of warrants. Conditions for lawful recording For material recorded by body cameras to be considered lawful, the regulations require that, among other conditions: Both the person against whom the camera was activated, and anyone else entering the recording field while it is running, are informed, whenever feasible, immediately after activation The cameras used emit a light signal, so their operation is visually apparent to the public The day, time and location of the officer activating the camera are recorded immediately after activation and again immediately after deactivation Recorded material is destroyed once it is established that it is not related to, or does not assist, the investigation or prosecution of any offence. Safeguards are in place so that, where a request is made to preserve the footage for use in civil judicial proceedings, it will be retained for a longer period. Camera footage can be used in criminal or disciplinary proceedings. Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Study confirms Cyprus nursing shortage, with deficit set to persist Things to do on Tuesday, August 4 Mostly clear skies with highs of 39 degrees on Tuesday Cyprus has EU’s second-highest desertification rate, JRC report finds Man stabs woman in occupied Nicosia supermarket, then harms himself Cyprus court rejects bid to unfreeze accounts linked to Angola’s former President Sketching Summer 2026 brings life drawing and painting to Polis Chrysochous Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.