The Alberta government is planning to require all police services in the province to use body cameras.

Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis said Tuesday that officers often respond to complex calls and make split-second decisions.

That can raise concerns from the public about officers害羞草研究所� actions and whether appropriate force was used.

害羞草研究所淢andating police to wear body-worn cameras is a transformational decision that will ensure all interactions with officers are objective,害羞草研究所� Ellis said.

害羞草研究所淧olice are responding to complex calls that may involve vulnerable Albertans (who) are experiencing mental health crises, suffering from addiction or having difficult moments in their (lives) that (are) clouding their decision-making skills.害羞草研究所�

Ellis said the provincial government will be working with the Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police on funding, logistics and when the cameras will roll out. He said the association is to develop a mandate over the next few months to 害羞草研究所渟wiftly get body cameras onto the streets as soon as possible.害羞草研究所�

He said Alberta would be the first province to mandate body cameras.

害羞草研究所淧olice will know that taking appropriate action and using the right amount of force is required in every incident, and police officers who use excessive force will face proper discipline thanks to body camera footage,害羞草研究所� Ellis said.

The Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police said it supports the move and police in Calgary have already implemented the devices.

害羞草研究所淣ever before has there been such scrutiny on policing 害羞草研究所� and rightly so. We are provided with powers of detention and are held to a very high standard,害羞草研究所� said Camrose police Chief Dean LaGrange, the association害羞草研究所檚 vice-president.

害羞草研究所淭he cameras are a good source of protection, not only for the public, but for the police officers wearing them.害羞草研究所�

Edmonton police Chief Dale McFee said details of the cost and how the cameras will get to all police services is to be done in short order.

The cameras will help ensure the public gets the entire story, he said.

害羞草研究所淚f you don害羞草研究所檛 have this transparency, what happens is you get snapshots of video, whether it害羞草研究所檚 off a cellphone, whether it害羞草研究所檚 off of different cameras, that only portray a picture of it,害羞草研究所� McFee said. 害羞草研究所淭hat takes the toll on everybody, because sometimes the devil in relation to the details is a lot more than a snapshot in time.害羞草研究所�

Irfan Sabir, the Alberta NDP justice critic, said he supports increased transparency, but there aren害羞草研究所檛 many details in the plan.

害羞草研究所淭here are no timelines, no funding and a lack of clarity regarding how the vast amount of data generated by body-worn cameras will be managed,害羞草研究所� Sabir said.

He added that the province害羞草研究所檚 police watchdog, the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team, has a 害羞草研究所渕assive backlog of cases.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淚f the (United Conservative Party government) was serious about transparency, they would be focused on clearing this backlog so law enforcement is held accountable and Albertans have access to justice.害羞草研究所�

Dunia Nur, president of the African Canadian Civic Engagement Council, said she will be watching closely 害羞草研究所渢o ensure that the implementation of police body cameras includes anti-racist policies and practices, and that gaps identified in other jurisdictions have been addressed to create a more just and equitable society.害羞草研究所�

Ellis said the mandate does not cover the RCMP, but the federal government has indicated it will be moving toward more body cameras in the future.