Felix readers show narrow support for body cameras as trial progresses
The College will run student focus groups to gather opinions on the technology as it considers a wider roll-out.
Eight incidents were recorded during the Imperial College Community Safety and Security team’s trial of Body-Worn Cameras (BWCs) in August this year, one of which involved a member of the Imperial community.
The trial, during which an average of two officers per shift were equipped with the technology, allowed the university to conclude that BWCs helped to de-escalate situations, provide reassurance, and protect against false allegations. According to Imperial, feedback from staff and students on the trial was largely positive.
The university is continuing to explore the feasibility of a full roll-out of BWCs across security staff, proceeding to run student focus groups to gauge opinions on the change.
Felix took to Instagram to ask the Imperial community for its thoughts on the initiative. Out of 193 respondents, 54% thought BWCs were a good idea, 26% were against the initiative, and 20% weren’t entirely sure.
Anonymous comments revealed conflicting opinions. One student stated “The police/security should be made to wear body cameras” because “it protects both parties.” Another asked “Why would you care if you’ve got nothing to hide?”
On the other hand, one commenter alluded to earlier reports of crackdowns on student protests on campus, writing: “I think it’s no coincidence that this occurs following encampments and protests.”
In 2024, occasional heated exchanges took place between students and Imperial’s security officers during policing operations related to the Palestine solidarity encampment on Queen’s lawn. The university conducted two investigations into allegations regarding the protests, concluding that no disciplinary action was needed.
BWC-bearing officers are required to ensure that the cameras are always visible and must announce when they begin recording. Footage is stored in a secure location and can be called upon for evidence within 30 days of recording, after which it is deleted.
A 2014 Cambridge University study of 2,000 officers in the UK and the US found that BWC adoption resulted in 93% fewer complaints launched against the police by the public. This was attributed to an “observer effect,” where “awareness that encounters are recorded improves both suspect demeanour and police procedural compliance,” enabling “cooler heads to prevail.”
