Ministerial submissions, briefings and advice relating to body-worn video cameras for Police Scotland: FOI release

Information requested

Any ministerial submissions, briefings, or advice provided to Scottish Ministers between 1 January 2025 and 31 December 2025 which refer to:

• the roll-out, delay, or implementation of body-worn video cameras for Police Scotland;
• assessments of the operational, safety, evidential, or court-efficiency benefits of body-worn video.

Response

Following a search of our records, the information you have requested can be found in Annex B of this response.

Section 30(b)(i) – free and frank provision of advice

An exemption under section 30(b)(i) of FOISA (free and frank provision of advice) applies to some of the information requested. This exemption applies because disclosure would, or would be likely to, inhibit substantially the free and frank provision of advice.

This exemption recognises the need to have a private space within which to provide free and frank advice to Ministers before the Scottish Government reaches a settled public view. Disclosing the content of free and frank advice will substantially inhibit the provision of such advice in the future.

This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. We recognise that there is a public interest in disclosing information as part of open, transparent and accountable government, and to inform public debate. However, there is a greater public interest in allowing a private space within which Scottish Government staff can provide full and frank advice to Ministers until the Government as a whole can adopt a policy that is sound and likely to be effective. This private thinking space is essential to enable all options to be properly considered, based on the best available advice, so that good policy decisions can be taken. Premature disclosure is likely to undermine the full and frank discussion of issues between Ministers and officials, which in turn will undermine the quality of the policy making process, which would not be in the public interest.

Annex B Return – Redacted

ITEM 1 – Minister for Public Finance meeting CC – 28/03/2025 – Public Sector Reform – PAGE 8 Body Worn Video

• Police Scotland commenced its rollout of Body Worn Video (BWV) on 26 March 2025. Around 750 Tayside (D) Division officers, including road policing officers and dog handlers, will be equipped with the new devices over the coming weeks. As the roll out progresses, more than 10,500 Home Office-approved Motorola VB400 cameras will be issued to frontline officers from constable to inspector ranks, and to police custody staff, across the country.
• Body worn video can significantly enhance public confidence and support officer and public safety by providing effective and transparent evidence of police and public actions. The technology will also improve the quality of evidence presented in court to deliver faster justice for victims by increasing early guilty pleas and reducing time spent at court for victims, witnesses and police officers.
• The rollout will take place over the course of 2025 and 2026 and has been supported by record capital investment from the Scottish Government

ITEM 2 – CC meeting with CSFLG and CSJHA – 11/11/2025

PAGE 16 Police Scotland continues to modernise and [redacted] have rolled out mobile technology to all officers, implemented the Contact Assessment Model (CAM) leading to improvements in call handling and are working to equip all officers with Body Worn Video (BWV).

• BWV has now been deployed to almost half of the officers plan for the first tranche of the rollout and the Scottish Government looks forward to further updates on progress
• BWV is just one piece of work aimed at assisting frontline officers spend time in the community, one of the cornerstones of the Chief Constable’s vision.

ITEM 3 - Cab Sec Briefing Dundee BWV Visit – 18/08/2025
Pages 4-6

• The Scottish Government supports the use of body-worn video to enhance transparency and accountability in policing.
• BWV can improve evidence gathering, reduce complaints, and increase public confidence.
• The pilot in Dundee has been an important step in evaluating the operational impact and officer experience.
• Feedback from officers and communities will inform future decisions on wider rollout.
• The Cabinet Secretary is here to listen and understand the practical implications of BWV use.
• The rollout of Body Worn Video is a game changer for Police Scotland’s hard-working officers.
• Ensuring officers can access this technology is a result of record Scottish Government investment in policing
• The Scottish Government is grateful to everyone across the sector that has got us to the point of rolling out the new equipment and we understand that officers in Dundee are already seeing its benefits.
• Body worn video can increase public confidence in policing and improve safety for police officers and staff. It can also benefit victims and witnesses of crime by allowing cases to be brought to court sooner.
• The use of body worn video is supported by a world-leading £33 million Scottish Government initiative for sharing digital evidence from crime scene to court room.
• Digital Evidence Sharing Capability (DESC) is also being rolled out across Scotland and will lead to efficiencies across the criminal justice system, delivering benefits for victims, police officers, prosecutors, defence lawyers, court staff and judges.
• I wish the first tranche of officers well and will be watching further rollout of these cameras with interest in the coming months.
• Decisions on how and when to roll out body-worn video is a matter for the Chief Constable with oversight provided by the Scottish Police Authority.

[redacted]
In June 2024 Police Scotland agreed a national contract to implement BWV for frontline officers and staff across Scotland, over three years.
Motorola Solutions UK Limited was successful in securing the £13.3m contract including the purchase of 10,500, Home Office approved VB400 cameras and supporting back-office  systems [redacted]

At the time, Mark Schmidl, senior vice president for international sales at Motorola Solutions, said: “We are proud to support Police Scotland with its nationwide deployment of the VB400, an innovative technology solution developed in Scotland, which will play an important role in helping to make communities safer.”
Officers in Dundee received the technology from 26 March 2025 [redacted]

Between June and September 2021, Police Scotland launched the second phase of their “Use of Body Worn Video” public engagement. This survey was intended to help shape Body Worn Video use by police officers, operational staff and special constables when interacting with the public.

The purpose of the survey was to understand public views relating to the use of Body Worn Video, including any impact this might have for the public and police officers.
The consultation survey which received over 9,300 responses asked the public to give their opinions on the fuller rollout of BWV to all police officers and police staff in operational roles. The public were asked a number of questions with the intention of enabling policing in Scotland to develop a comprehensive understanding of public opinion which was broadly representative of Scotland’s people.

Questions included, would you feel safer knowing that your interaction with Police Scotland is being recorded by a body worn camera? And to what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement: Knowing interactions with the public are recorded would increase my confidence in Police Scotland.?

Police Scotland confirmed that the key findings showed 8 in 10 people (82%) support police officers, staff and special constables always wearing BWV when engaged in police activities. More than two thirds (71%) of respondents agreed they would “always” feel safer knowing that their interaction with Police Scotland was being recorded by BWV. Over 8 in 10 people (84%) agreed BWV would increase their confidence in Police Scotland.

[redacted]

• ITEM 4 – Meeting briefing CSJHA and Chief Constable – 16/01/2025 and ITEM 5 - Meeting briefing CSJHA and Chief Constable – 27 Feb 2025

Page 3- The Chief Constable has regularly highlighted the benefits of technology in freeing up officer time and improving frontline services. Examples include the roll out of body worn video [redacted]

• ITEM 6 - Meeting briefing CSJHA and SPA Chair – 3 April 2025,

Page 3 - The 2025-26 SPA capital budget will total £70 million – an increase of over £5 million for investment in the police asset base including estate, technology, fleet and body worn video.

• ITEM 7 - Meeting briefing CSJHA and SPA Chair – 5 February 2025

Page 5 - We will provide £75 million police capital funding – an increase of over £10 million for investment in the police asset base including estate, technology, fleet and body worn video.

• ITEM 8 - Meeting briefing CSJHA, SPA Chair and Chief Constable 15 May 2025

Page 4- The capital budget will be £70 million in 2025-26 for investment in the police asset base including estate, technology, fleet and body worn video.

• ITEM 9 - SPF Conference 25 March 2025 – briefing

Page 4 - We are increasing capital funding to £75 million for investment in the police asset base including estate, technology, fleet and investment in body worn video.

• ITEM 10 - ASPS Conference 21 May 2025 – briefing

Page 12 - We have increased capital funding to £70m for investment in the police asset base including estate, technology, fleet and investment in body worn video.

• Page 18 BODY WORN VIDEO
• This is a game changing piece of technology which has been delivered through record Scottish Government investment in policing
• I am grateful to everyone across the sector that has got us to the point of rolling out the new equipment and hope that officers in Dundee quickly see its benefits.
• Body worn video can increase public confidence in policing and improve safety for police officers and staff. It can also benefit victims and witnesses of crime by allowing cases to be brought to court sooner.
• The use of body worn video is supported by a world-leading £33m Scottish Government initiative for sharing digital evidence from crime scene to court room.
• ITEM 11 SPF Meeting 11 June – briefing

Page 5 - The capital budget will be £70 million in 2025-26 for investment in the police asset base including estate, technology, fleet and body worn video.

• ITEM 12 Police memorial Day 3 September 2025 -

Page 6 - We have increased capital funding to £70m for investment in the police asset base including estate, technology, fleet and investment in body worn video.

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