In the case of an accident or a crime, the use of these body-cams must be synonymous with the law, or new laws should be established to better protect both the police and the civilians without discrimination. Furthermore, authorities should be thoroughly informed about the moral responsibility that comes with the use of body-cams as consent can be a major issue for most civilians. This is extremely paramount as complications can arise as to how and when footage can and cannot be used during legal trials. The authorities need to move ahead with a clear goal in mind.
While there is much to think about, the use of body-cams may prove beneficial in a country bedeviled by crime, robbery and illegal practices. Body-cam surveillance, with routine systematic inspections will provide some sense of structure in the chaotic police system on the ground. These body-cams will be an extremely useful tool to fight lawlessness in the city, if used properly. The introduction of technology in the police gives the authorities a base through which they can bring about much needed structural reforms within the police. At such crucial times, what Karachi needs is increased accountability not just in the police but across the board by creating a middle ground between civilians and authorities and body-cams might just do exactly that. One can only hope and wait.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 31st, 2019.
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