13th May 2022
The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Health and Social Care Trust (NIAS) conducted a public consultation designed to examine the principle of introducing body worn video for the purposes of violence prevention and reduction between 6 December 2021 and 14 February 2022. As part of this consultation, we undertook to carry out a further consultation to consider more detailed factors like deployment, usage, governance, policy and procedure, subject to a positive outcome to this initial consultation.
I am pleased to say there was a positive and supportive response to the initial consultation on the principle of introducing body worn video. Respondents to the consultation recognised the importance of prevention and reduction of violence and aggression, and that NIAS has a statutory duty to keep staff safe. A summary report of the consultation results, and the main themes identified from written feedback, public meetings and questions posted on social media can be found below (Consultation Summary).
We now intend to carry out a pilot of the use of body worn video and, informed by comments made by consultees during the initial consultation, we have developed a second consultation document on the Deployment Plan (see below). The purpose of this second consultation is to seek your views on this plan.
An Easy Read version of the consultation document will also be published. If you have any queries about the document, and its availability in alternative formats (including Braille, disk, audio cassette and minority languages) please contact:
Equality Team
Telephone: 07810 636990
E-mail: john.gow@nias.hscni.net
A separate consultation questionnaire document is also available below for you to complete, but we would welcome your comments in any format. Please send your comments to:
Body Worn Video Public Consultation
Equality & Public Involvement Office
Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Health & Social Care Trust
Site 30
Knockbracken Healthcare Park
Saintfield Road
BELFAST
BT8 8SG
Email: consultation@nias.hscni.net
Telephone: (028) 9040 0999
Textphone: (028) 9040 0871
If you would like an opportunity to discuss any aspect of the consultation, please contact bwv@nias.hscni.net.
The closing date for comments is Friday 22 July 2022.
Michael Bloomfield
Chief Executive
Read more here: Body Worn Cameras Consultation | Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Health & Social Care Trust (hscni.net)