Body worn cameras rolled out for gardaí in Limerick city

SOME Limerick city gardaí will be wearing body cams from this August 1. 

Gardaí in Henry St will be equipped with Body Worn Cameras (BWC) from this Thursday, marking the second phase of the initiative. 

Limerick is the second of three pilot locations to test the use of BWCs before a national rollout. The first trial commenced in Dublin in early June.

Henry St gardaí will be the first force in Limerick to be able to record incidents, helping to “improve front line capability, expedite analysis, enhance situational awareness, and sometimes protect themselves from harm.”

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Minister for Justice Helen McEntee spoke this Thursday at the Henry St garda station launch, saying that she is  “very pleased” the scheme is “now extending the pilot phase to Limerick”.

“I’m very pleased that this technology will now be used and tested by frontline gardaí here in Limerick. Today marks another important step towards ensuring every Garda has access to this technology,” she said.

“Early feedback on the use of BWCs in Dublin has been positive from gardaí, members of the public and the retail business community.

“I look forward to hearing about the progress and learnings of the pilots in Limerick and Dublin and the commencement of the Waterford pilot in the near future.”

There are three phased rollouts as part of the BWC proof of concepts stage. Each phase involves the use of BWCs by frontline gardaí, with Limerick being hand picked as one, along with Dublin and Waterford.

Mayor John Moran told Limerick Live reporter Faye Dorgan what he “loves” about this pilot scheme is that Limerick was “chosen almost at the top of the list, just second to Dublin”.

“What I really love about this is that we have often said that Limerick almost comes last on the list, but here we have the gardaí responding to our requests, making sure that Limerick is treated almost at the top of the list. 

“We got there just second to Dublin, which is good, and I really appreciate that.”

Additionally, three different types of camera are being trialled in the three chosen pilot counties, with surveys being conducted to determine which the most effective and suitable will be for national rollout.

When complete, the three-phased pilot will inform their introduction in garda stations nationwide. The camera footage is uploaded at the end of a shift so it can be used as evidence at court or is deleted after an agreed time if it is not required as evidence.

The Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act 2023 was signed into law in December 2023.