The use of body cameras by the Baden-Württemberg police is regulated by Section 44 of the Police Act. This law establishes clear guidelines under which the police may make video and audio recordings to ensure public safety and prevent crime. ## Use of body cameras for hazard prevention
A particularly important point of the law is the use of body-cams for hazard prevention and law enforcement. When carrying out measures to prevent hazards or to prosecute criminal offences or administrative offences, the police may collect data by making image and sound recordings using body-worn recording devices (body-cams) in order to avert a hazard. In private homes, this is only permitted to avert an imminent danger to a person’s life or limb. However, this restriction does not apply to work, business or commercial premises. The collection of personal data is also permitted if it is unavoidable that third parties are affected.
Direct link to the legal basis: PolG BW
Special features of the law Protection of private life Recordings that relate to the core area of private life are not permitted and must be stopped and deleted immediately if corresponding indications arise during the measure. These findings may not be used.
Storage periods and pre-recording The data may only be stored for longer than 60 seconds if this is necessary to protect police officers or other persons against danger to life and limb. Otherwise, the data must be deleted immediately. Longer storage and further processing is only permitted under certain conditions. Duty to inform and deletion periods
The police must indicate that observation and recording by means of image and sound transmission is taking place if this is not obvious. The recordings must be deleted immediately, at the latest after four weeks, unless they are required for the prosecution of criminal offences or significant administrative offences, for the assertion of claims or for the protection of private rights. Even if third parties are affected, further processing of the data is permitted. An administrative offence is considered significant if there is a threat of considerable damage or if an important public interest is affected.
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