IPOH: Road Transport Department (JPJ) enforcement officers on duty are not allowed to turn off their body-worn cameras (BWC) at will, as the devices are continuously monitored, says Perak JPJ deputy director Mohd Azmi Jaafar.
He said the use of body-worn cameras follows strict procedures and cannot be switched off by officers without valid reasons.
“From the beginning of their duty in the morning, the camera must be switched on and can only be turned off after the officer has completed the assignment.
“There is a specific procedure even to switch it off and it is not allowed unless the officer enters a sensitive area. Under normal circumstances, the camera cannot be turned off,” he told reporters at the Ops Khas Nine Offences on Jalan Kuala Kangsar - Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah roadblock on Thursday (Jan 16).
Mohd Azmi added that the cameras are monitored in real time by the JPJ headquarters.
“If an officer switches it off without authorisation, the monitoring team at headquarters will receive a signal immediately,” he said.
He said the use of BWCs is intended to record all interactions between enforcement officers and road users.
“These recordings are meant not only to protect the rights of road users, but also to safeguard enforcement officers from misunderstandings, unfounded accusations and allegations of misconduct.
“All recordings will be used in accordance with the standard operating procedures set by headquarters,” he added.
He said that the department began using body-worn cameras in November last year as part of a pilot project, with 14 units currently deployed.
Eight units are used by JPJ Ipoh, four by JPJ Taiping, and two at the Kuala Kangsar enforcement station.
When asked whether the cameras are only used during roadblocks or also during patrols, he said that BWCs are worn by enforcement officers at several strategic locations.
“These include officers conducting field operations,” he said, adding that officers stationed at JPJ counters and driving test centres are also required to don BWCs.
“This allows us to observe how our officers interact with road users, customers at counters and driving test candidates,” he said.
On whether more BWCs will be added for its officers on duty, he said further procurement is planned.
“This is still a pilot project. I understand that headquarters, particularly the Transport Ministry, plans to procure additional units, subject to budget approval and feedback from this pilot phase,” he added.
Meanwhile, on Ops Khas Nine Offences, he said a total of 112 notices had been issued as of today for various offences, including failure to wear the front passenger seat belt.
“A total of 107 vehicles were inspected, with 82 motorists taken action against,” he said.
