Since last Monday, National Police agents have been able to use single-person recording devices (DGU), cameras that will capture both video and audio and that will be used in different police interventions, although not in all, since their use must be previously authorized. and it will be prohibited in certain circumstances, as specified in the protocol on the use of these devices issued by the Deputy Police Operations Directorate.
What can they record? Said document indicates that in order for the agents to be able to record, they must be carrying out citizen security tasks outdoors or in public buildings, and the activation of the cameras should only be carried out in the event of a danger or in a specific event for which their use has been authorized by the corresponding Government Delegation or Subdelegation.
In special circumstances, such as in cases of urgency or urgent need for the recording, the person in charge of the police operation may authorize its use by his subordinates, but will have to inform the competent authorities as soon as possible and justify his decision.
home recordings. Likewise, agents of the National Police may not use the DGUs in private homes unless the holder of the affected rights explicitly consents to it, has a court order to do so, or in the event that an intervention is carried out to prevent crimes or infractions. serious and very serious administrative
For what could it be used? The audiovisual content collected by these devices may be used in trials as evidence. In the case of being requested by the judge, the images will have to be made available as soon as possible, and within a maximum period of 72 hours from their recording.
The audiovisual material obtained through the DGU may only be stored for three months, a period after which the National Police is obliged to destroy it, except if these videos are part of an ongoing police investigation or an open judicial or administrative proceeding, and always that the images are related to serious or very serious criminal or administrative offenses.
More security for agents. The spokesman for the police union JUPOL has stated, in statements to Spanish Television, that this measure will help improve the physical and legal security of police officers. And he explains that many already make use of these devices on the street, acquired by themselves, to record their performances and use the images in case of complications during the service.
Possible extension to the Civil Guard. After the Ministry of the Interior has authorized the use of the DGU for the National Police, the Civil Guard has also requested that its agents have the possibility of carrying them. JUCIL, the professional association of this armed institute, has indicated through his Twitter account that “in view of the lack of legal protection and the attacks suffered by our comrades, we ask the General Directorate of the Civil Guard to use cameras for citizen security and police interventions.”
The Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, has left the door open to this possibility in an interview on Spanish Television, in which he has indicated that “everything comes” and that he considers investment in the DGUs to be very important for the Forces and Corps of State Security, since they benefit both the agents and the citizens.
Image | Paul Rodriguez