RiskUKSeptember2017

News Analysis: British Standard 8593 for Body-Worn Video
British Standard 8593:2017 focusing on body-worn
video cameras backed by industry
British Standard 8593 delivers a common
framework to boost public trust in the
understanding of where and when bodyworn
video can be employed, with the
document providing technical and operational
recommendations for its appropriate and
proportionate deployment and use.
The new British Standard was drawn up to
address a gap in guidance due to the
differences between the use of CCTV and bodyworn
video, and also with a view to avoiding
any repeat of the privacy concerns associated
with the widespread roll-out of the former. The
UK is widely believed to be the most surveilled
state in the world.
BS 8593:2017 covers planning and
operational recommendations, outlining the
need for body-worn video’s deployment to be
based on legitimate reasons, and particularly
so in terms of undertaking those all-important
privacy impact assessments.
Anne Hayes, head of market development for
governance and resilience at the BSI,
explained: “During the development of BS
8593, it was agreed that public confidence in
the operation and management of body-worn
video was and is critical. Balancing safety,
security and privacy matters is a central
concern. The involvement of both security and
privacy groups shows that British Standards
can deliver industry consensus by aligning
agendas to the public benefit. Body-worn video
has an advantage as a security device in terms
of providing the end user with a sense of
protection. It’s a second pair of ‘eyes and ears’
should something go wrong.”
Tony Porter QPM LLB, the Surveillance
Camera Commissioner, added: “I’m absolutely
delighted to support the new British Standard
and acknowledge the excellent work which has
been undertaken to deliver it in such short
timescales. As the use of body-worn cameras
proliferates, so they become more and more
ingrained as an intrusive capability in the daily
lives of citizens. The important and
fundamental balance of preserving the rights of
citizens while keeping our communities safe
and secure is at the heart of the Home
Secretary’s Surveillance Camera Code of
Practice which, of course, I regulate. The
principles within that Code are resident at the
very heart of the new British Standard and I
commend its introduction.”
With body-worn video cameras now widely adopted by
councils and police services across the UK, and in direct
response to concerns over data security and privacy, a new
British Standard (BS 8593:2017 Code of Practice for the
Deployment and Use of Body-Worn Video) has been
developed in conjunction with security and privacy groups
including the Home Office, the Metropolitan Police Service
and Big Brother Watch*. Brian Sims reports
Legitimate deployment
Examples of the legitimate deployment of bodyworn
video cameras can include:
• Safeguarding employee safety and security
where a given end user of body-worn video may
be at risk of physical or verbal attack or is
otherwise working in a hazardous environment
• As a deterrent if the device wearer is involved
in policing or controlling an environment which
people could try to disrupt
• Evidence capture if the body-worn video user
is involved in a role where they might witness
or investigate criminal activity, and where
capturing visual or audio evidence could assist
with future legal proceedings
• Promoting transparency where device wearers
(such as bailiffs or parking wardens, for
example) regularly encounter complaints
• Capturing data to use in process improvement
or training (identifying learning opportunities)
Device recommendations such as
functionality, weight, image quality and
Tony Porter QPM LLB:
Surveillance Camera
Commissioner
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