Max Marnitz – NetCo Professional Services GmbH

Pre-Recording Body-Cams

Max Marnitz — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 18:43:03 +0000

Bodycams have become an important tool for promoting transparency and de-escalation in the deployment of security forces. A key technology integrated into these devices is so-called pre-recording. This function allows the camera to constantly record the last few seconds or minutes, even if the record button has not yet been pressed. This can be crucial for documenting important events before the camera is activated.

What is Pre-Recording?

Pre-recording is a function in bodycams in which the camera continuously saves a certain period of time before the actual recording. This period of time can usually be between 15 seconds and 2 minutes, depending on the camera model and settings. If the recording function is activated manually, the previously recorded seconds are also saved. Otherwise, they are deleted automatically. This technique ensures that the context prior to an incident is also recorded, which can be of great importance for the reconstruction of events and for evidence purposes.

Police laws and regulations in Europe

There are specific regulations in the respective countries that govern the use of bodycams by the police. These police laws cover various aspects, including the use of the pre-recording function. In Germany, for example, each state’s police force has its own regulations for the use of body cameras, but these are generally limited by data protection law and the right to informational self-determination. It is important that police officers act transparently and proportionately, which means that they must provide information about the use of the cameras and ensure that the recordings are stored securely and only used for legitimate purposes.

Application in the private sector

Bodycams with a pre-recording function are also increasingly being used in the private sector, particularly in security services, logistics and retail. Companies use this technology to ensure the safety of their employees, prevent theft and document incidents. Similar data protection regulations apply here as in the public sector, particularly with regard to informing the persons concerned and the secure storage of data. The use of bodycams by private companies must be measured against Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f) GDPR in terms of data protection law. Companies must ensure that the use of bodycams is transparent and in accordance with the applicable data protection laws. This often means that information is provided about the recording and that clear guidelines are in place on how the recordings are used and stored. In some cases, it is necessary to obtain the consent of employees or customers, especially in situations where privacy may be at risk.

Disclaimer:

The information provided on this website does not constitute legal advice and is not intended to address any legal issues or problems that may arise in individual cases. The information on this website is of a general nature and is provided for informational purposes only. If you need legal advice for your individual situation, you should seek the advice of a qualified lawyer.

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NetCo presents the new Bodycam Pro series – lighter, more durable and more user-friendly

Max Marnitz — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 09:00:00 +0000

Our new NetCo Body-Cam Pro:

Today we are announcing the launch of the new Bodycam Pro. This further development of our popular Bodycam product line offers numerous improvements that are specifically tailored to the needs of professional users. There are numerous new features to discover!

Larger buttons and lighter design

The new series has larger, ergonomically designed buttons on the side for improved haptics . These buttons enable simple and intuitive operation, even when gloves have to be worn or in stressful situations.

The new Bodycam Pro is lighter than its predecessor, which makes it considerably more comfortable to wear (162g). This is a significant advantage, especially for emergency personnel who have to carry the camera for long periods of time, as it reduces fatigue and increases mobility.

High-resolution, improved display and significantly improved battery life

The new Bodycam Pro series is equipped with an even better, high-resolution display (2.65 inch TFT color display), which ensures a crystal-clear image in all lighting conditions for optimal de-escalation.

The battery life of the new Bodycam Pro has been significantly extended, making it suitable for longer operations (up to 20 hours) without the need for frequent recharging. This is particularly important for police forces, security teams and rescue services, who are often on duty for many hours at a time.

Fast NFC and RFID login, multi-user capability

In addition to the classic pin login, the Body-Cam Pro also offers NFC and RFID. With the integration of NFC and RFID technologies, the new Bodycam Pro offers quick and easy user login. This simplifies handling, especially in teams with multiple users, and ensures efficient operational readiness, allowing the same camera to be used easily and securely by different users.

Who is the new Bodycam Pro series suitable for?

The Bodycam Pro is aimed at a wide range of users, including police and security forces, emergency services, private security companies and businesses that require reliable documentation of their operations. With its lightweight design, larger, easier-to-use buttons and improved battery life, the new series offers an ideal solution for demanding operating conditions.

"Made in Germany" - guarantee for quality and durability

The production and software development of the new Bodycam Pro continues to take place in Germany and meets the highest quality standards. NetCo thus continues to focus on durable and reliable products that have been specially developed for professional requirements. The new Bodycam Pro from NetCo is now available from us. For further information and a personal consultation, please do not hesitate to contact us. Contact us today to find out more about the NetCo Bodycam and the funding options.

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Bodycams at major events: Cameras support Cologne carnival

Max Marnitz — Tue, 21 May 2024 14:05:03 +0000

Shortly after the start of the Body-Cam Pilot test phase at the City of Cologne, the municipality is already drawing positive conclusions about body cams: the field staff of the public order office have benefited from the use of the cameras, especially on carnival days. In particular, the front screen of the tested cameras – including the NetCo Body-Cam – had a de-escalating effect on the revelers: “By wearing the Bodycam with front screen, it was found that those affected adapted their behaviour and became more cooperative,” a spokeswoman for the city of Cologne announced shortly after the carnival (source: New devices in use: Bodycam helped Cologne public order office at carnival in action against troublemakers (msn.com)).

The area in which the body cams were used was extended during the carnival days: while the cameras are normally only used around the cathedral/main train station and the old town, the field staff now also wore the body cams in the Zülpich district in order to de-escalate conflicts and protect other revelers.

The body cams were in use on carnival days – and not just in the cathedral area, but in all “hotspots” in the city. The general pilot phase will last for a total of 6 months. In addition to the NetCo Body-Cam, other models will also be tested. After the test phase and a subsequent evaluation, a decision will be made as to whether the body cam will continue to be used by the field staff of the Cologne Public Order Office.

The City of Cologne attaches great importance to a well thought-out technical infrastructure. The ability to store recorded body cam data in the city’s IT network is important here in order to avoid security gaps.

Only a few body cams needed to be used at the carnival

During the test period to date, a body cam recording has only been made twice – both times during the Cologne carnival. In three cases, aggressive revelers were warned, but the body cam was not activated because the situation could be de-escalated. In one of the two cases in which the body cam recorded the situation, it was a heavily intoxicated person who was involved in a fight. The camera was switched on after a member of security staff was also attacked. The image and sound material from the body cam is now being used to preserve evidence in order to be able to successfully initiate criminal proceedings against the partygoer.

For data protection reasons in the EU, body cam recordings are deleted by default after a predefined period of time. However, indefinite storage is possible in three cases:
For the prosecution of criminal offenses and administrative offenses
To avert danger at the request of the person filmed, in the event of a request to review the legality of the body cam recording

In the case of the heavily intoxicated person who assaulted the police officer, the body cam recording is also initially stored indefinitely to enable criminal prosecution.

Body cams also helpful at other major events

It is not only at the Cologne Carnival that the experience of the public order office has shown that body cams are a promising way of de-escalating conflict-laden situations. The use of body cams is also beneficial at other major events that are accompanied by the public order office and police in order to manage potential conflicts and ensure public safety.

However, in order to be able to equip additional security personnel, for example from private security companies, with body cams for major events, a few hurdles still need to be overcome in terms of data protection. NetCo has created a free guide (available on request) to provide all interested security companies with a detailed overview of all measures for GDPR-compliant body cam use.

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DB Regio: More safety for customer advisors on trains

Max Marnitz — Tue, 07 May 2024 14:06:32 +0000

Cases of violence on trains threaten the safety of train attendants and physical assaults are no longer uncommon. Situations usually escalate due to missing tickets and the threat of fines. In 2022, more than 3,000 assaults were committed against railroad employees,an increase of 21% compared to the previous year. To protect its customer service staff, DB Regio is now increasingly using body cams on its trains.

Body-Cam deployment on the Black Forest Railway

The NetCo Body-Cam has been successfully used on the Black Forest Railway since February 2023. DB Regio and the Offenburg Federal Police have launched a pilot project in which the cameras are to be used on the Black Forest Railway line for a year to make the day-to-day work of customer service staff safer. If a situation escalates, the train attendants now have the option of informing the passenger in question that the body cam can be switched on and record video footage if the situation does not calm down. The recorded video material can only be viewed by the Offenburg Federal Police and used for further prosecution. Those affected will receive an information card from the train attendants with further information and contacts.

So far, however, the de-escalating effectof the body cam has been sufficient. Valerie Fischer, train attendant on the Black Forest Railway, is delighted with the camera:

“Sometimes situations escalate out of nowhere. But when people see the camera, they immediately back off. This gives me more security”. (source of quote: Protection for train staff: ticket control with bodycam | tagesschau.de)

"I wouldn't give her away again"

DB Regio has also launched a similar pilot project in Bavaria. On the route from Bamberg to Würzburg, 6 railroad employees are testing the NetCo Body-Cam until the end of the year. Martina Wilk is one of the customer advisors who is allowed to wear the camera on her uniform. Since the introduction of the body cam, she has rarely been insulted and has not been physically assaulted since. The train attendant finally feels safe again in her day-to-day work: “I wouldn’t give [the body cam] away again.” (Quote source: More assaults on trains: train attendants wear bodycams | BR24). She is pleased about the respect she is once again receiving from passengers with the camera and often no longer has to engage in discussions as soon as she asks for ID. Christian Postler, Team Leader Bamberg at DB Regio Bayern, also draws a positive interim conclusion about the body cam. Since the other train attendants have been wearing the body cam, there have also been no more incidents of violence.

Transdev also relies on body cams

Not only DB Regio, but also many other public transport companies such as the Transdev Group are now using body cams to protect staff. In 2022, there were 210 verbal and physical assaults at Regio-S-Bahn Bremen/Lower Saxony (Transdev) – a significant increase compared to the pre-coronavirus years. NordWestBahn is now using body cams on a trial basis. In future, 35 train attendants will wear a body cam. These will be used every day from 7 p.m., as situations are particularly likely to escalate during this time. So far, there have only been positive reactions: A NordWestBahn spokesperson announced that no video recordings had yet been made. He also confirmed the de-escalating effect of the NetCo body cam. (Source: De-escalation: Test with bodycams in Nordwestbahn: Cameras show effect | ZEIT ONLINE)

TransRegio, part of the Transdev Group, has been using body cams on the MittelrheinBahn between Cologne and Mainz since 2019. A TransRegio customer advisor is also pleased with the de-escalating effect of the body cam: “Passengers react to it, are aware of the issue and behave accordingly. I also feel much safer with the camera.” (Quote source: Body cams on the Mittelrheinbahn (netco.de)).

Further references:

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Leverkusen Municipality

Max Marnitz — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 06:22:17 +0000

Leverkusen Municipality

The Organization

Following an extensive test phase, the Leverkusen municipal police service has decided to equip its employees with body-worn cameras, the NetCo body cams, with immediate effect. Around 30 field staff will be equipped with these devices to increase security during their assignments. This measure is being introduced as part of a comprehensive security concept aimed at preventing verbal and physical attacks.

Body-Cam Application

Start:

2024

Main Objective:

Prevention of verbal and physical attacks, increased safety for the emergency services

Area of application:

Streets and public spaces in the city

Feedback:

“By purchasing the bodycams, we hope to take additional measures to prevent verbal and physical attacks against our employees. Experience has shown that the introduction of the bodycams will have a de-escalating effect and thus increase the safety of our emergency services. At the same time, additional evidence can be secured in misdemeanor or criminal proceedings.” Steffen Franzkowski, Head of the Department of Public Order and Road Traffic

The bodycams serve as an additional security measure to reduce aggressive behavior and increase the safety of employees. Data protection requirements are strictly adhered to and employees are trained accordingly before using the bodycams. The recordings are made in accordance with the applicable data protection guidelines and are used exclusively for the safety and protection of employees and to preserve evidence if necessary.

Article by the city of Leverkusen: Municipal public order service to use bodycams in future

Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger article: Public order service employees of the city of Leverkusen now always wear bodycams

Wiener Linien

Wiener Linien is the public transport network in Vienna. They have already been using NetCo's body-cam since 2018.

Bochum Municipality

The municipality of Bochum has been using body-cams since 2023. What is particularly appreciated about them and how did the

Siegburg Municipality

The Municipality of Siegburg has been using Body-Cams since 2023. What is particularly appreciated about them?

Witten Municipality

The city of Witten has been using body cams in a test since 2023.

Police of Brandenburg

The police of the state of Bremen has been using Body-Cams since 2022. Have they proved their effectiveness and what

Hamm Municipality

The city of Hamm has been testing body cams since 2023.

Der Beitrag Leverkusen Municipality erschien zuerst auf NetCo Professional Services GmbH.

BVG – Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe

Max Marnitz — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 07:08:10 +0000

BVG - Berliner Verkehsbetriebe

The organization

Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG), the public transport organization for Germany’s capital Berlin, is launching a twelve-month pilot project to introduce body cams for security staff. The use of body cams at key stations and throughout the entire subway network is intended to prevent and defuse conflict situations and better clarify incidents. The aim is to make public transport in Berlin safer and cleaner. The pilot phase initially comprises 18 body cams.

Body-Cam application

Start:

2024

Main objective:

Improving safety and cleanliness on public transport.

Area of application:

Main stations of the subway lines U7 and U8, as well as in the entire subway network

Feedback:

In 2023, the BVG recorded a decrease of 88 cases of assaults on employees compared to the previous year. Assaults on security staff also decreased by around 54 percent. Nevertheless, every attack is one too many. BVG therefore relies on innovative technologies such as body-cams to optimize the deployment of its security staff.

The effect of body-cams has been proven in an evaluation study. Find out more from Dipl.-Psych. Dipl. oec. Udo Kluttig from LOGO Bochum: LOGO Bochum

During the twelve-month test phase, at least one person in each pre-trained team will be equipped with a body-cam. The small and lightweight devices weigh only around 180 grams and record video sequences. The cameras are not activated continuously, but are only switched on after an audible signal and only in necessary situations. The data is stored for up to 48 hours in accordance with data protection regulations.

More on the use from the BVG itself: Well equipped with safety

Article on the deployment from RBB: BVG to equip security service with bodycams from Monday

Further references

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Cologne Municipality

Max Marnitz — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 12:54:02 +0000

Cologne Municipality

The Organization

Cologne’s public order office is successfully testing the use of bodycams. The first ten devices were introduced in the city center and used by trained personnel. Experience has shown a de-escalating effect, with the camera being activated when necessary, leading to de-escalated behavior on the part of the people approached. Various models will be tested in a six-month pilot phase before a decision is made on permanent use in the public order office.

Body-Cam Application

Start:

2024

Main Objective:

De-escalation of potentially aggressive situations and increasing safety in public spaces through the use of bodycams.

Area of application:

The test is mainly carried out in the city center, but is also conducted in outlying districts.

Feedback:

Initial experiences have been positive and show a de-escalating effect. The people approached react more calmly when the camera is activated. The test deployment is rated as successful. Various models will be tested during the pilot phase before a decision is made on permanent use in the public order service.

Find out more about the use of body cams at the public order office in Cologne here: Cologne public order office tests body cams – use at carnival

Saarbahn

The Saarbahn has been using body cams for all security forces since 2022. Have these cameras proven their effectiveness and

Münster Municipality

The Münster municipality uses Body-Cams within their outbound services

Krefeld Municipality

The city of Krefeld has been using body cams since 2023. What is particularly appreciated about them and what is

Deutsche Bahn

Deutsche Bahn has been using Body-Cams since 2017. Have they been successful and what is particularly valued about them?

Der Beitrag Cologne Municipality erschien zuerst auf NetCo Professional Services GmbH.

Nordwestbahn (Northwest Railway)

Max Marnitz — Mon, 13 Nov 2023 12:37:33 +0000

Nordwestbahn (North West Railway)

Organization

Nordwestbahn GmbH, a private railroad company, has been operating local rail passenger services in north-western and western Germany since 2000. With a network of 12 lines and over 1,000 kilometers of track, Nordwestbahn transports around 22 million passengers a year. As a subsidiary of Transdev GmbH, Nordwestbahn is increasingly focusing on safety measures on trains, including the use of bodycams on the Regio-S-Bahn Bremen/Lower Saxony network.

Body-Cam Application

Start:

2023

Main Objective:

The main aim is to improve the safety of the municipal public order service and at the same time protect citizens through de-escalation. The bodycams are to be used in dangerous situations to objectively record events.

Application:

The bodycams are used as a supplement to the existing video technology in the trains of the Regio-S-Bahn Bremen/Lower Saxony.

Feedback:

The use of the bodycams will be documented and analyzed in detail during the pilot phase. A reduction in attacks and insults, faster investigation of crimes and increased safety for passengers and employees are expected. Data protection is a key concern, with encrypted storage and limited access rights.

More on this from the Northwest Railway: Safe on the move

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Herne Municipality

Max Marnitz — Mon, 13 Nov 2023 12:20:22 +0000

Herne Municipality

Organization

With the start of the Cranger Kirmes, a regional festival, the municipal public order service of the city of Herne is introducing a one-year pilot phase with seven bodycams. The main aim is to improve safety and protect the emergency services and citizens through de-escalation. The body cams are intended to objectively record events in dangerous situations in image and sound and thus contribute to the clarification of assaults.

Application

Start:

2023

Main Objective:

Application:

Municipal security service for the protection of emergency services and for the objective documentation of emergency situations.

Feedback:

Full feedback can only be given after the pilot phase. The municipal order services expect an increased sense of security, which is not only due to the objective documentation of events, but also to the preventative deterrence of potential perpetrators through the visible technology. The automatic deletion of irrelevant recordings complies with data protection guidelines and contributes to the transparent handling of the information collected.

More on this from the city of Herne: Municipal public order service receives bodycams

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Moers Municipality

Max Marnitz — Sat, 04 Nov 2023 07:33:23 +0000

Moers Municipality

The Organization

The city of Moers is planning the nationwide introduction of bodycams for all of its law enforcement personnel in traffic monitoring. This step follows a successful test with four devices in June and August. The bodycams are used to document disputes and are intended to increase employees’ subjective sense of security and safety.

Body-Cam Application

Start:

2023 (Test-Run)

Main Objective:

The main aim is to increase safety and the subjective feeling of safety among employees in traffic monitoring. The bodycams are used to document disputes and incidents.

Application:

The bodycams are mainly used in traffic surveillance to ensure that disputes and conflicts can be documented.

Feedback:

The test with bodycams in June and August resulted in positive feedback and showed that the cameras help to increase employees’ sense of security and safety. This measure is now being introduced across the board to improve safety and the documentation of incidents in traffic monitoring.

This measure is part of a comprehensive security program in Moers and will help to increase the security of municipal law enforcement officers and better document conflicts.

More on the test by the city of Moers: City tests bodycams

and from the Rheinische Post: A good feeling thanks to bodycams

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