On 28 September 2022, the Federal Congress on Municipal Order, organised by Behörden Spiegel, will take place in Dortmund with a focus on “municipal hazard prevention”. As a manufacturer of de-escalating body cameras, NetCo will also be represented there with a stand and will provide information on the use of the cameras by law enforcement agencies, among others.
More responsibility for municipal law enforcement officers Internal security tasks – such as issuing expulsion orders or monitoring demonstrations – are increasingly being taken away from the police and handed over to the field service of the public order offices. In the process, the emergency services are repeatedly becoming victims of (violent) attacks. The Federal Congress on Municipal Order addresses this issue and creates a platform for information and discussion, which NetCo is happy to support with its body cam expertise. ## Body cams help law enforcement agencies to avert danger Last year, the state parliament in North Rhine-Westphalia saw the need to amend the Law Enforcement Act due to increasing attacks on municipal law enforcement officers. Since then, law enforcement officers have been allowed to protect themselves with body cams, just like police officers, and use the image and video material as evidence after an assault. Since the beginning of the year, the city of Duisburg has therefore been investing in the safety of its field staff and has equipped them with NetCo body cams. The officers of the Public Order Office report that there have been no (verbal or physical) attacks on staff since then. In particular, the large and highly visible front display of the NetCo body cam has a de-escalating effect in critical situations. This preventive effect of the camera ensures that troublemakers refrain from further action and protects the officers and uninvolved third parties.
The positive experiences with body cameras in Duisburg should also motivate other municipal law enforcement agencies to test the cameras. As the topic of body cameras is still new at the municipal level, NetCo is hosting its second “Body Camera Conference” in Cologne on 14 June 2023, providing a platform for the exchange of experiences and information.
Further information on the next “Body Cam Conference” can be found here: 2nd Body Cam Conference – Secure your tickets for the next conference now (netco.de)