The Sarajevo police started using body cameras today, and the Canton of Sarajevo became the first in Bosnia and Herzegovina whose police use body cameras. The cameras are on the uniforms of the members of the Traffic Unit of the MoI of Sarajevo Canton.
The Minister of Internal Affairs of the Sarajevo Canton, Admir Katica, said that members of the Traffic Unit of the MoI of the Sarajevo Canton are going out into the field with new equipment – body cameras.
“This is our fulfillment of another big promise to the citizens. I sent the initiative for the procurement of these devices and equipping our police to the Sarajevo Canton Government in 2021 and funds of almost half a million BAM were immediately secured. The procurement was finally concluded in November of last year and conditions are met for the Police Administration to start implementing them,” he noted.
He pointed out that this is a test phase during which the Police Administration will monitor the use of body cameras and eliminate possible ambiguities and shortcomings because the goal is to make their use as efficient as possible, as he emphasized. Katica reflected on the way body cameras are used and their functionality.
“We are sure that body cameras will have multiple benefits, and I emphasize that their basic function is protection. The cameras will improve the safety of our police officers and protect them from possibly unfounded complaints, belittling, disrespecting officials and the like. Citizens will also be protected from possible abuse of police powers”, he stated.
He indicated that the body cameras will be on visible parts of the uniforms and will record the area in front of the police officer.
“Each police officer will be obliged, when performing police work and applying police powers, to know the person, according to whom they are being applied, to be recorded,” he adds.
He noted that the use of body cameras is regulated by the Rulebook on the Behavior of Police Officers of the Police Department of the MoI of the Sarajevo Canton when performing police duties and applying police powers.
He referred to the procurement of other equipment and material and technical means for the police, pointing out that despite numerous obstacles, the police is becoming stronger and more equipped day by day.
“I am often asked why a helicopter and not police uniforms. Why special armored vehicles and not some other. It is important that citizens, as well as our police, know that one does not exclude the other. We make sure that the police have everything they need and at the same time we launch numerous procurements, but the dynamics of their implementation depends on many factors, first of all the public procurement procedure,” he said.
According to him, one issue at a time is being resolved and he promises that the Sarajevo police will soon have new uniforms, equipment, special vehicles, and especially new infrastructure needed for more efficient work.
The contract for the purchase of body cameras with accompanying equipment necessary for the functioning of the entire system was signed on November 22, 2023, and its value is 418,795 BAM without VAT, Klix.ba writes.
