The police of Rhineland-Palatinate have new body cameras. The 382 second-generation devices were delivered to the Police Headquarters Operations, Logistics and Technology, which is responsible for procurements. 48 more bodycams are on order.
This means that the number of police body cameras has increased significantly, explained the Minister of Interior Michael Ebling (SPD). In the future, the number will be 430. With the new 382 bodycams, every patrol car crew in Rhineland-Palatinate will have a camera at its disposal. The additional 48 devices are to be available in particular for mobile intervention groups (MEG) and situations with special organisational structures (BAO). The head of the Mainz department said: “We regularly invest in new equipment in order to optimally protect our police forces in their often not easy job. Unfortunately, it has become apparent that our police officers are increasingly exposed to verbal and physical attacks. Bodycams can be used to document such behaviour. This deters potential perpetrators from the outset in the event of threatening physical confrontations.” The Rhineland-Palatinate police have been using body cams since 2014, when Rhineland-Palatinate became the second federal state to test the new technology.
Modern equipment for police is also a subject on the European Police Congress of the Behörden Spiegel. It will take place on the 3rd and 4th of May 2023 in Berlin.