THE USE OF BODY-WORN CAMERAS ON POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY AND PUBLIC TRUST: AN ASSESSMENT

Abstract

Body-worn cameras, or BWCs, are small, wearable recording devices that allow for the actions of law enforcement to be watched, reviewed, and monitored, and thus can be used to hold police accountable for their actions and to increase the level of trust between the public and law enforcement. However, there is a lack and gap concerning how implemented BWCs affect how effective they are in enhancing police accountability, reducing crime, and building community trust in the Philippine setting. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of body-worn cameras and how they affected various factors related to public trust. A total of 288 law enforcement officers and barangay officials were randomly selected from Region 3 as respondents. Data were collected using a researcher made questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results indicate that BWCs are fully implemented in the region and that they are effective in promoting factors such as police accountability, reducing crime, and building trust within the community. It also indicates that the perspectives of BWCs between barangay officials and law enforcement are not too different. Further, when examining the relationship between the factors, it shows that if BWCs are properly implemented, they become very effective devices that promote and increase police accountability, reduce crime in areas, and help to build and cultivate community trust.

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