Last year, the Bundesbefertigungs GmbH launched an EU-wide procurement procedure for body cameras. It was then completed in the fall of 2022. “Depending on the specific requirements, which are still being clarified in detail by public customers, several thousand pieces up to the announced 6,000 pieces. Bodycams including accessories and software can be called upon by these various public customers”, says Bundesbefertigungs GmbH on request. In addition to the Ministry of the Interior, other authorities can also request bodycams if necessary.
According to reports, 3,500 to 4,000 cameras are expected to go to the Ministry of Interior for police use. The first installment should go to the departments and units later this year. By 2024, every department must have a body camera available.
Working group decides on distribution
The Ministry of the Interior does not yet want to name the exact number of bodycams, in a written statement it says: “The number of devices is increasing to a large extent throughout Austria”. Currently, there is a working group in the Federal Police Directorate that is working on the installation of the new Cameras that will be distributed to the states and units of the federation. “We cannot say anything about this at the moment, but we will communicate actively in due course,” the statement continues.
After a test, the first body cameras officially went into operation in the police in 2019. The balance was positive. According to officials, the announcement to turn on the camera often had a de-escalation effect.
According to the ministry, the Austrian police currently have “about 375 body cameras in use”, 92 of them in Vienna. Vienna police officers called them “more than 70 times” last year, according to the press service of the Vienna State Police Directorate. Addendum: “Among other things, false triggers can also occur.”
No increase in ÖBB
The ÖBB also relies on body cameras. A total of 188 security personnel and train attendants are currently on duty. “Currently, an increase in bodycams is not planned”, says the request, since the number is sufficient. If necessary, however, it can be increased at any time, according to an ÖBB spokesperson.
At Wiener Linien, all of the approximately 120 employees of the security service wear a body camera. “Currently no increase is planned,” says Wiener Linien’s press office.