The impending use of body cameras by gardai will be an important tool for the protection of the public, this week’s meeting of the Galway County Joint Policing Committee was told.
Chief Supt Tom Curley told the meeting that he is aware of the issues surrounding the public videoing members of the gardai and then editing them to suit their own purposes.
“Social media is the age we live in, and we know that people are filming gardai and then editing them, but all we can do is ignore that because that is the society we live in.
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‘Once we have the legislation drawn up on them, the use of body cameras by members of an Garda Siochana will prove to be an invaluable tool in the protection of the public and in the gathering of evidence to bring before the court.
He was responding to JPC member, Cllr Colm Keaveney who said that he was very concerned about the public videoing and editing gardai in the course of their city and then publishing that on social media.
“It is terrible that gardai have to undergo this. The body cameras will play a key role in protecting the integrity of the gardai and their personal circumstances," he said.
