The use of body cameras by the Hesse police is based on § 14 (6) of the Hesse Public Safety and Order Act (HSOG). This regulation was introduced in 2015 and extended in February 2025 to provide a clear legal basis for the use of body cameras by police officers.
Previously, in May 2013, the Frankfurt am Main Police Headquarters had launched a one-year pilot project on the use of mobile video surveillance. Following positive experiences, the use of body cameras was extended to the entire state of Hesse from 2015 onwards.
Go directly to the legal basis: § 14 HSOG Would you like to use a body camera in Hesse? Let us advise you! ## Why does the Hesse police force use body cameras?
Body-Cams are primarily used for hazard prevention and to protect police officers from verbal and physical attacks. They have a preventative effect, as people often become more cooperative when they know they are being filmed. However, the recordings can also be used as evidence in criminal proceedings.
When are body-cams used? In Hesse, body-cams are primarily used in hotspot-oriented operations involving at least three officers. There are plans to procure more compact camera models that can be attached directly to uniforms to enable their use in patrol duty with two officers at a time.
A ruling by the Hanau Regional Court states that citizens who are checked by the police have the right to film the operation if the officers’ body-cams are also running. ## Legal basis for body-cams in Hesse The use of body-cams in Hesse is regulated by § 14 (6) HSOG. This allows the hazard prevention and police authorities to openly use technical devices worn close to the body for image and sound transmission. In doing so, individuals may be briefly recorded or their recordings stored if this is necessary to protect employees of the authorities or third parties against dangers to life, limb or freedom.
It is particularly relevant that the collection of personal data via third parties is also permitted if this is essential for the measure. Body-Cams may only be used inside homes if there is an urgent danger to the life, limb or freedom of a person. In this case, Section 39 (1) sentences 2 and 3.
The storage and processing of recordings is subject to strict deletion requirements – they must be deleted immediately as soon as they are no longer required for self-protection or criminal prosecution. In addition, their use in publicly accessible places such as airports, railway stations or shopping centres is subject to special regulations. ## How long can body-cam recordings be stored?
The recordings are stored for a period of 14 days and destroyed after this deletion period has expired, unless they are required to avert danger, prosecute a criminal offence or administrative offence, or enforce a sentence (Section 14 (3) sentence 4 in conjunction with Section 14 (1) sentence 2 HSOG).
These regulations are intended to ensure that the use of body-cams remains proportionate and does not interfere with the core area of private life. Should this nevertheless occur, the data concerned must be deleted immediately and the measure must be documented. ## Body-Cams for the police and public order offices: Who is allowed to use them?
The legal regulations on the use of body-cams apply not only to the police, but also to public order authorities in Hesse. Both institutions may use body-cams under the specified conditions to protect their employees and avert danger. The same data protection and deletion periods must be observed to ensure that the recordings are used in a legally compliant manner.
Advantages and challenges The use of body-cams has proven to be an effective means of reducing violence against police officers in Hesse. At the same time, the debate about data protection and the impact on the relationship between citizens and the police continues.
The advantages of body-cams: • Greater safety for police officers and citizens: Body cameras act as a deterrent to potential attackers and can prevent violent incidents. • Objective evidence: Video recordings enable a more accurate reconstruction of incidents and can help to refute false accusations against police officers or clearly prove offences.
• Promotion of trust in the police: When citizens see that police actions are being documented, this can contribute to greater transparency and a better relationship between the population and the police. • Effective law enforcement: The recordings provide valuable evidence for investigations and court proceedings, which can lead to a higher clearance rate.
Would you like to use a body camera in Hesse? Let us advise you! To our guide for the GDPR-compliant use of body cameras