PSNI Officers Watched Body-Worn Footage for ‘Entertainment’, Investigation Finds

An inquiry has determined that over 70 Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officers viewed body-worn video recordings of a drug arrest for their “entertainment and amusement.” The footage was largely accessed “without legitimate purpose” across 20 police stations on 248 occasions between 2019 and 2022, with one officer reportedly watching it 21 times. The Police Ombudsman’s Office reported that “management action” was initiated against 74 officers, aimed at improving their professional conduct. The PSNI stated its acceptance of three recommendations from the Police Ombudsman and confirmed it had implemented additional safeguards concerning body-worn video usage. A separate officer is currently under investigation for potential criminal activity related to accessing the material. The video depicted an individual being apprehended for possessing illicit drugs. During the incident, the arresting officer made an error while issuing a criminal caution, “causing a colleague to laugh in the background.” Hugh Hume, Chief executive of the Police Ombudsman’s Office, commented: “The video may have been viewed for entertainment and amusement, but the officers who did so showed little regard for the privacy of the man being arrested, nor for the emotional wellbeing of their colleague featured in the video.” This matter came to light during an unrelated investigation. Mr. Hume noted: “The responses received from officers, when asked to provide their reasons for accessing the video, suggested an apparent lack of awareness that doing so might constitute a criminal or misconduct offence.” He added: “A number of officers indicated in their responses that as a result of the investigation they had refreshed their knowledge of PSNI guidance regarding body-worn video, which I welcome.” Mr. Hume emphasized that it was “imperative” for body-worn footage to “should only be accessed for lawful policing purposes.” He explained: “Police use body-worn video to gain first accounts from victims that they meet. They use it to record their interactions with the most vulnerable people in our society.” He characterized the “management action” approach as “a reasonable and proportionate outcome.” The PSNI accepted several recommendations intended to address the misuse of body-worn video. However, it declined a proposed dip-sampling exercise—a random review—intended “to evaluate the scale of unauthorised access to the body-worn video system.” The PSNI indicated it had implemented dip sampling by line managers and independent scrutiny through its newly established Service Accountability Panel, which it was satisfied “achieved the same end result.” Mr. Hume stated: “Given the weaknesses in the control of access to body-worn video, it is our view there remains a significant residual risk that private and personal data can be accessed without a legitimate policing purpose.” He further mentioned that the ombudsman’s findings had been shared with the Information Commissioner’s Office. Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster’s Good Morning Ulster programme, former PSNI officer Jon Burrows expressed that it was “disappointing that the police officers have breached the trust that they have.” He continued: “It is unacceptable because police officers are trusted with really sensitive and sometimes very distressing and personal information from victims of crime,” adding: “The public need to know that the police service will treat that respectfully and confidentially.” Deputy Chief Constable Chris Todd affirmed that the PSNI has various measures in place to “ensure officers are aware of their responsibilities regarding the legislative requirements relating to acceptable use and Data Protection implications of viewing body-worn footage.” He concluded: “Following the outcome of the Police Ombudsman investigation, the police service implemented the appropriate management action and will continue to keep procedures and policies regarding access to body-worn video under continuing review.”