An investigation has revealed that over 70 officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) viewed body-worn video footage of a drug-related arrest for their entertainment. This footage was accessed improperly at 20 different police stations on 248 occasions between 2019 and 2022, with one officer reportedly watching it 21 times.

The Police Ombudsman’s Office indicated that disciplinary measures were taken against 74 officers to enhance their professional conduct. The PSNI acknowledged three recommendations from the Ombudsman and has implemented additional safeguards regarding body-worn video usage. Furthermore, one officer is currently under investigation for potential criminal actions related to accessing this material.

The footage in question depicted an individual being arrested for possession of illegal drugs. During the arrest, an officer mistakenly administered a criminal caution, which elicited laughter from a colleague present at the scene. Hugh Hume, the Chief Executive of the Police Ombudsman’s Office, commented on the incident, highlighting that while the video may have been viewed for amusement, it displayed a troubling disregard for the privacy of the arrested individual and the emotional wellbeing of their colleague.

This issue surfaced during an unrelated investigation. Responses from officers regarding their reasons for accessing the footage suggested a lack of understanding that such actions could be deemed misconduct or even criminal behavior. Many officers acknowledged that they had revisited PSNI guidelines on body-worn video as a result of this inquiry, which was positively noted by Hume.

The management actions taken in response to this incident were described as reasonable and proportionate. While the PSNI accepted several recommendations aimed at preventing future misuse of body-worn video, they declined to perform a suggested random review to assess the extent of unauthorized access to the video system. Instead, they introduced dip sampling by line managers and established an independent Service Accountability Panel to achieve similar oversight.

Hume expressed concerns about ongoing vulnerabilities in controlling access to body-worn video footage, noting significant risks related to unauthorized access to personal data without legitimate policing reasons. He also mentioned that findings from this investigation had been communicated to the Information Commissioner’s Office.

In response to these events, Deputy Chief Constable Chris Todd stated that various measures are in place to ensure officers understand their responsibilities concerning acceptable use and data protection laws related to body-worn footage. Following the Ombudsman’s investigation outcomes, Todd confirmed that appropriate management actions have been taken and emphasized ongoing reviews of policies related to access and usage of body-worn video within the service. Meanwhile, police will be vigilant for predatory behavior in public areas during Halloween festivities in Derry.