Axon secures contract with the Scottish Police Authority
The Scottish Police Authority (SPA) has awarded Arizona-based technology firm Axon the contract to supply Police Scotland’s armed officers with Body Worn Video (BWV).
The £505,000 contract will see firearms officers equipped with the technology ahead of the COP26 UN climate change conference, which takes place in Glasgow in November 2021.
Body Worn Video has been shown to have a positive impact on the safety of the public and the officers wearing it, and all other armed police units in the UK are currently deployed with cameras. The introduction of BWV for armed officers will bring Police Scotland into line with these other services and ensure best practice and evidence, as well as increased transparency and accountability at incidents.
The use of body worn video aims to lead to greater transparency, reduce and resolve complaints, as well as reducing delays to the justice system.
While this is not new technology, and every other armed policing unit in the UK uses body worn cameras, it is a significant introduction for Scottish policing. As such, our public engagement survey for wider use by frontline officers is essential to ensuring people have a voice and it will help us gather and address any ethical and community related concerns where possible.
Paul Strozier, Axon Managing Director Europe, Middle East & Africa, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be able to work with Police Scotland on this critical deployment of both cameras and software to equip their Armed Policing officers. Police Scotland has strict, high standards for operational use of any critical equipment and the Axon Flex 2 point of view camera has achieved these standards by being developed specifically to meet the challenges of modern day policing. Axon’s user-friendly software solutions will also support collation of evidence protecting not only Police Scotland officers, but also the communities they serve.”
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ABOUT AXON: Transforming public safety with technology
Axon Enterprise, Inc. is an American Scottsdale, Arizona-based company which develops technology and weapons products for military, law enforcement and civilians. Its initial product and former namesake is the Taser, a line of electroshock weapons. To learn more, visit https://www.axon.com.