Prison officers to wear body cameras

From September 2018, frontline prison officers will wear body cameras in a nine-month trial at seven maximum security prisons.

The footage will place officer safety front and centre by increasing transparency and providing better accountability over incidents involving inmates or visitors.

More than 40 cameras will be used in the trial at:

• Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre at Silverwater
• Silverwater Women’s Correctional Centre
• Long Bay Correctional Complex
• Wellington Correctional Centre
• Macquarie Correctional Centre
• Cessnock Correctional Centre
• Goulburn Correctional Centre.

Minister for Counter Terrorism and Minister for Corrections David Elliott said the trial would also assist in managing the most challenging inmates in NSW prisons.

“One of the most challenging roles prison officers encounter is the movement of high risk inmates such as terrorism-related offenders. The Extreme High Security Unit perform these duties and will have access to these body worn cameras as well as the Security Operations Group.”