Control or protection? Work environment implications of police body‐worn cameras. (3rd July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hansen Löfstrand, Cecilia; Backman, Christel
• Is Part Of: New technology, work and employment. Volume 36:Number 3(2021)
• Page Start: 327
• Page End: 347
• Publication Date: 2021-07-03
• Subjects: body‐worn camera -- body‐worn video -- control -- employee monitoring -- police -- protection -- surveillance -- work environment; Labor supply -- Effect of technological innovations on -- Periodicals; 338.064
• DOI: 10.1111/ntwe.12201
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0268-1072

Abstract

Abstract: This review paper critically examines the work environment implications of the use of body‐worn camera (BWC) technology reported in research. We found that published peer‐review studies (90 articles) pay very little attention to the work environment of BWC users – police officers. Departing from the notion of the two faces of surveillance and of BWC technology as a surveillance tool with uncertain implications – control or protection of officers – we critically examine how expectations in relation to BWC introduction and its implications have been addressed to explain why so little attention has been devoted to the topic. We found a dominant control rationale facilitating (rapid) BWC implementation at the expense of officers' work environment, health and safety.