Keeping crews safe with cameras

Surrey Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) is due to start trialing body worn cameras to enhance staff safety and capture video at incidents. 

This initial trial will see Fire Investigation Officers and Response Officers don the cameras. 

This initiative aims to eliminate any potential harassment and abuse towards staff, aid learning and support post-incident reviews as well as provide evidence for investigations.  

SFRS’s Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Sally Wilson, said: “The introduction of body worn cameras is a significant step for our service. Firefighter safety is absolutely paramount and although the number of attacks on our staff is very low, having had just two of this nature in the last year, any of these incidents are too many, and the cameras will help us improve their safety. It will also improve effectiveness of our operational response and support with any subsequent investigations which aids learning and development for our whole organisation.” 

The body worn cameras initiative is in response to the National Fire Chiefs Council’s earlier recommendation for all UK fire services due to a worrying increase in fire crew attacks.