Medicine Hat Police Service frontline officers use two types of cameras: body-worn cameras (BWC) and in-car cameras (ICC).
Body-worn cameras
All frontline officers, including patrol, traffic and some specialty unit officers, wear a small camera on their uniform to record audio and video during public interactions. When activated, the camera recording includes a 30-second video-only buffer captured before activation.
Members of the public will generally see the camera mounted on an officer’s torso. The camera is slightly smaller than a smartphone and has a visible red recording light. The light may be turned off for safety reasons, such as during nighttime incidents or when it could create an officer safety concern.
Officers are expected to use these cameras when interacting with the public, especially during:
- Arrests or detentions
- Use-of-force situations
- Investigative contacts
- Legal demands
- Laying charges
Legally, officers are not required to tell a person they are being recorded during an interaction; however, they are trained to do so when circumstances allow.
In-car cameras
Specific Traffic Section police vehicles are equipped with both dash and back-seat cameras that record audio and video. The cameras activate automatically when the emergency lights are turned on or during a collision.
Each recording includes the 30 seconds before activation and ends only when an officer manually turns the camera off.
Officers are expected to use these cameras during:
- Investigative contacts
- Transporting arrestees
- Pursuits
- Situations that support an investigation
Privacy concerns
Recordings are subject to applicable Alberta privacy legislation, including the Protection of Privacy Act and, where applicable, the Health Information Act.
Footage may be disclosed through the court process, with private third-party information redacted where required.
Cameras will not be used during intimate searches of prisoners, when recording may interfere with legal privilege, or in areas where there is a high expectation of privacy.
Operations and Use
The MHPS first began exploring body-worn camera technology through a pilot project initiated in 2017. Since then, the program has grown gradually as the Service assessed operational needs, technology requirements, storage demands, and best practices for managing digital evidence.
With 86 cameras now available, the expanded program provides broader coverage for frontline and specialized officers who regularly interact with the public. The expanded deployment meets the Alberta government requirement for all frontline officers to be equipped with cameras and reflects the Service’s ongoing commitment to transparency, accountability, evidence-based investigations, and public trust.
Officers will use body-worn cameras in accordance with Service policy, applicable legislation, and privacy requirements. All MHPS body-worn camera users complete training on relevant legislation, Service policy, camera operation, evidence management, and privacy requirements.
Evaluations of both body-worn and in-car cameras have found evidence that the technologies can support a more efficient accountability process and help reduce incidents where force is used.
Goals of body-worn cameras:
- Enhance transparency, public trust and confidence
- Enhance officer accountability and professionalism, and provide real-life training examples
- De-escalate situations and reduce use-of-force incidents by and against the police
- Protect officers from unfounded allegations of misconduct and increase the efficiency of the resolution of complaints against the police
- Improve evidence collection, documentation, and prosecution, including early case resolution
Policy and complaints
The use of body-worn cameras at the MHPS is governed by the In-Car Video and Body-Worn Camera Policy.
Complaints process
Concerns about misuse can be reported through the police complaint process. Complaints related to the policy governing the body-worn camera program will be reviewed by the MHPS Professional Standards Unit. Complaints related to misconduct under the Police Act and Police Service Regulation are investigated in accordance with the legislation. The Act sets out the requirements for a valid complaint and outlines the process for filing a complaint.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I ask an officer to stop recording?
Officers are required by policy to activate their body-worn camera during law enforcement interactions with members of the public. Officers will continue to assess privacy considerations and any recording prohibitions outlined in the MHPS Body-Worn Camera Policy to determine whether recording should continue or stop.
How do I ensure that my personal information during a body-worn camera recording is kept confidential?
Recordings made by MHPS cameras are subject to Alberta’s Protection of Privacy Act.
Recordings may be disclosed to the courts and, when required, by the Crown to legal counsel. Private third-party information captured in a recording is redacted or edited where required for legal, police tactical, or security purposes.
Officers using body-worn cameras will balance privacy rights with law enforcement needs. Officers will not:
- disseminate body-worn camera images to any person or entity unless authorized by law
- use a body-worn camera to record any activities that are not required for a valid law enforcement purpose
- use a body-worn camera in a covert capacity to secretly record an interaction with anyone
How long are body-worn camera recordings stored?
Body-worn camera recordings will be automatically deleted after 13 months if they have not been identified as being associated with a criminal or provincial offence investigation.
If a recording becomes part of a criminal investigation, it will be retained according to the MHPS Records Retention Schedule, depending on the type of case and the retention category.
Can I view or obtain a copy of body-worn camera video recordings of an incident that I was involved in?
If you would like to view or request a copy of body-worn camera footage from an incident you were involved in, you can file an Access to Information request.
Once your request is approved, a Disclosure Analyst will prepare a fee estimate. After payment is received, a copy will be provided. Please note that third-party information will be removed or blurred from the video.