In the following interview, Thorsten Bleckmann, head of the municipal field service at the Citizens’ and Public Order Office in Duisburg, gives us exciting insights into the successful use of body cameras to improve safety and de-escalation in the city. Learn more about the background, benefits and challenges of this innovative approach.
How long have body cameras been in use by the municipal field service in Duisburg? In April 2022, we started a trial run with 20 body cameras. After evaluation, we finally decided in October 2022 to equip all employees with them.
Why did you decide to use body cameras? As head of the municipal field service, I regularly keep myself informed about legal changes that affect the work of my employees. I also pay particular attention to possible innovations in safety equipment. After the amendment to the Public Order Act was passed and the possibility for public order authorities to use body cameras was created, I looked into this topic in more detail and brought it to the attention of the Duisburg administration. As body cams involve considerable costs, I exchanged ideas with other companies (e.g. Deutsche Bahn) that already use them. I was particularly interested in how their use can de-escalate situations or prevent them from escalating in the first place. I received consistently positive feedback on body cams from other companies. I then obtained quotes from several suppliers. In a further step, we first tested the body cameras before fully equipping our staff with them. ## How did the pilot project go? We found that in many conversations with citizens, the cameras already had a de-escalating effect without even being switched on. Sometimes we are asked whether the camera is one of these and whether it has already been switched on. We then explain the multi-stage de-escalation procedure: first, the camera is simply present; then there is the option of switching on the display only; and only if the situation has still not calmed down and continues to escalate do we start recording. The feedback I have received from employees has been consistently positive. Of course, there are cases where the camera does not impress someone, e.g. if they are under the influence of drugs or mentally incompetent. In the case of combative individuals who are mentally clear and know exactly what they are doing, the mere presence of the camera causes them to moderate their behaviour. They also have a de-escalating effect in situations that have already come to a head. ## Did you encounter any technical problems during the pilot? In isolated cases, there are cameras from which the data cannot be downloaded. We also had problems with the batteries; some body-cams did not last a whole shift. The settings of the body-cams have now been changed and the batteries last. So there are technical problems from time to time, but the support when problems arise is good. ## How do people in Duisburg react to the body-cams? If they react at all, it is positively and with interest. Negative reactions are rare. In most cases, the situation calms down as soon as the camera is switched on.
Duisburg is the first large municipality to use the NetCo body cam. Do you have any tips or advice for other municipalities that are also interested in using body cams? It is important that employees and future main users are involved in the considerations from the outset. Initially, there were reservations about the use of body-cams (e.g. fear of surveillance or recording of one’s own work), but these quickly disappeared among those who tested them. The tests were carried out by a working group from the municipal field service and by some traffic monitoring employees. Now, the employees feel safer thanks to the use of body cameras. When purchasing new technology or software, it is important to be open with existing information and to involve all stakeholders in the process. The use of body cameras in Duisburg has led to a decline in psychological and physical attacks against users. Therefore, the purchase in Duisburg was definitely worthwhile. 
About the person: Thorsten Bleckmann is the head of the municipal field service at the Citizens’ and Public Order Office in Duisburg and, following changes to the Public Order Act, has been a strong advocate for the use of body cameras by the Duisburg public order service.
