Delhi Traffic police to buy 2,800 body cameras

New Delhi: The Delhi traffic police (DTP) will procure 2,800 body-worn cameras to its personnel to record their interactions with motorists and take stringent action against drivers who engage in road rage with policemen.

On September 25, a mobile video of a couple alleging assault and rape threats against a traffic cop in Janakpuri went viral on Twitter. To counter the allegations of the couple the DTP issued a video clip, which was filmed by the traffic cop with his body-worn camera, showing the woman and her husband attacking the policeman and tearing off his uniform during a scuffle, following which they were arrested on the spot.

DTP said that it will procure 800 body-worn cameras by the end of this year. The next 2,000 cameras, which will have live-streaming feature, are likely to be procured by next year.

“We have made a specific demand for live-streaming body-worn cameras that will strengthen the process of challaning traffic violators. At present, around 3,200 traffic policemen are working on the ground. Out of this, only 400 traffic policemen are equipped with body-worn cameras,” said Garima Bhatnagar, joint CP (traffic).

The senior police officer added that it will help take action against errant drivers by reducing conflict. It is also for the safety of traffic cop who face allegations of bribery or manhandling drivers while performing their duty.

These cameras will be given to the personnel posted in major junctions in South, East, Northeast, and New Delhi districts — which also saw the maximum number of complaints.

The body-worn cameras in use by the traffic police have only 4-hours of recording facility and the traffic cop has to go to the control room to save the feed.

These cameras cannot be switched on and off by the officer and since their feed and recording is stored with the traffic control room, the personnel cannot tamper with them, he said.