EVIDENCE BASED - POLICING • CENTRE • • •
Research&
Research on Body-Worn Cameras
Evaluation
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I Requested By: DCE Strategy Mark Evans
Prepared By:
Reviewed and approved By:
Date: 18 April 2018
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This Terms of Reference outlines the proposed research aim, objectives, approach, timeframe and
resources, and expected output.
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1.Aim
In April 2018, DCE Strategy Mark Evans tasked Research and Evaluation (R&E) at the Evidence-based
Policing Centre to undertake a research project on body worn cameras (BWC).
2. Previous research
A recent rapid literature review conducted by Research and Evaluation in 2017 identified that a prospective
meta-analysis of ten multi-site, multi-national randomised control trials covering 8 police forces in 6
jurisdictions reported two relevant findings. Ariel
et al. (2016} found that despite the conflicting findings
across sites, the combined results suggest that the use of ewe did
not alter the rate of police use of force.
Second, the combined results suggest that the use of BWC
increased the risk of assaults on officers: the
Information
rate of assaults against police officers was 14% higher during the experimental condition, when compared
with the control condition (25 vs 22 assaults per 1000 arrests). These findings contradicted the 'perceived
wisdom' that BWC were an effective tool to reduce officer-related harm.
3. Research scope objectives
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The research seeks to:
1. Identify the global use of BWC by policing agencies, Including those agencies which have
discontinued using BWC; the
2. Collate and synthesise the empirical evidence around the impact of use of body worn cameras by
police officers, e.g. officers' safety, officers' acceptability, and public perception;
3. Understand how BWC are used by other justice sector/regulatory agencies in New Zealand, and
overseas; under
4. Explore the evidence outlining the utility and functionality of BWCs in operational contexts;
5. Identify the legal, ethical, and cultural issues around the use of BWC in New Zealand.
4 Approach
The proposed approach will involve:
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1. Collaboration and consultation with relevant groups
Given the nature and implications of this research to the operational environment, a collaborative
approach will be taken. As a first step, Research and Evaluation will discuss the research objectives with
the Response and Operations group to determine the formation of a consultation panel who will
support, inform and review the research findings.
EVIDENCE BASED -
POLICING • CENTRE • • •
2. Review and synthesis of the literature and operational reports
The research will involve collating and synthesising published literature and unpublished reports. Literature
and reports will be identified through a systematic search using academic databases and other electronic
databases (e.g. google), news article searches, and making direct contact with organisations that may hold
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the relevant documentation. KAI will be tasked to source material.
Operational Reports by police agencies outside New Zealand will be sourced through formal channels of
Police Liaison Officers in London and Washington, and informal channels through international evidence-
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based policing networks.
3. Potential review of legal and cultural considerations
Discussions will be held with other Police workgroups (identified through the consultation panel) to
canvas the potential implications of introducing body-worn cameras at New Zealand Police. This may
include a discussion of the legal and cultural considerations.
4. Consideration of alternative technoloeies
There may be relevant emerging technologies that could complement or replace BWC.
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5. Timeframe and resourcing
Scoping
Apr 2018
0.25 Senior Researcher:
Consultation group membership and terms
May 2018
0.25 Senior Researcher:
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of reference determined
Literature and report searching
May-Jun 2018
0.20 Senior Researcher:
0.25 Research Assistant:
the
Evaluation and synthesis
Jul-Aug 2018
0.25 Senior Researcher:
0.10 Senior Researcher:
Report drafting
Sep - Nov 2018
0.50 Senior Researcher:
0.10 Senior Researcher:
Interim report discussion DCE Strategy and
Sep 2018
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Consultation· Panel
Final rep.ort
Dec2018
0.25 Senior Researcher
6. Output
An interim report wlll be provided to the consultation panel for review and to the DCE Strategy by 30
September. The final research report will be provided to the Executive by 14 December 2018, which will
outline findings relevant to the research objectives and provide recommendations on next steps.
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EVIDENCE BASED -
POLICING • CENTRE • • •
Rnearch&
Terms of Reference: Body-Worn Cameras Research
Evaluatlon
.r
Requested by: DCE Strategy Mark Evans
•
Prepared by:
Reviewed and approved by:
1982
Date: 18 April 2018
l.Aim
Act
The aim of this esearch is to determine the evidence base on the rationale, use and effectiveness of body
worn cameras, both nationally and internationally. The output of this research will be a report to Inform
the New zealand Police Executive's decision making on the potential use of body worn cameras (BWC).
2. Research objectives
The research seeks to:
1. Identify the global use of BWC by policing agencies, Including those agencies which have
discontinued using BWC;
2. Collate and synthesise the empirical evidence around the impact of use of BWC by police officers,
Information
e.g. officers' safety, officers' acceptability, and public perception;
3. Understand how BWC are used by other justice sector/regulatory agencies in New Zealand and
overseas;
4. Explore the evidence outlining the utility and functionality of BWCs in operational contexts;
s. Identify the legal, ethical, practical and cultural issues around the use of BWC in New Zealand.
Offcial
6. Explore potential alternative technologies that may complement or substitute BWC.
3. Approach
the
The proposed approach wiH involve:
1. Collaboration and consultation with relevant croups
Given the nature and Implications
af this research to the operational environment, a collaborative
approach wlll be taken.As a first step, Research and Evaluation will discuss the research objectives with
under
the Response and Operations group (and other relevant work groups -to be confirmed) to determine
the membership of an advisory group. This group will support, inform and review the research findings.
The advisory group will also help identify relevant work already undertaken with New Zealand Police
across the various groups on BWC (this will include work such as Research and Evaluation team's (2017)
BWC rapid literature review). The work identified at this stage will form part of an initial stocktake and
will be summarised In the final report.
2. Review and synthesis of the literature and operational reports
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Both published literature and unpublished reports on rationale, use and BWC effectiveness will be collated
and synthesised into the final report. Literature and reports will be Identified through a systematic search
using academic and other electronic databases (e.g. google), news article searches, and through direct
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Information
Offcial
the
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