Should RNC officers wear body cameras? Their union president thinks so

RCMP officers in this province have body-worn cameras. RNC officers do not. The newly elected president of the RNC Association says that should change. I think body-worn cameras will show the public exactly what's going on. You know, they provide excellent evidentiary value. They are transparent. They hold members accountable. It's a win-win. McClougharty is meeting with other Atlantic Police Associations at the Sheraton to compare notes on policing. Darlene Perry is the head of the Halifax Regional Police Association, and its members are in the midst of being equipped with body-worn cameras. Our membership is excited to have the rollout of it. They believe that it will protect them and the public, so we're not shying away from it. Chris Schneider, a critic of body-worn cameras, says he's not surprised that police associations are in support. Increasingly, the research supports that body-worn cameras, for a variety of reasons, actually benefit police. more than I think they benefit the public who subsidize these body-worn camera programs. He argues that the evidence does not suggest that body cams are effective in reducing crime or increasing accountability, and that spending on social programs is more cost-effective. There are other ways to contribute to community safety that have been proven in the research literature. For example, investing in education, health care, affordable housing, job training and opportunities. Drug rehabilitation centers are just a couple of examples. The RNC Association head acknowledges socioeconomic factors in crime, but says that body cams are still worth the investment. There's been discussions and conversations had about police oversight and about transparency. What a better way to do that than this. The RCMP across the country have spent hundreds of millions on their body-worn camera program. It's not clear yet whether the RNC will receive body-worn cameras, but if they do, it will also come with a price tag. John Harris, CBC News, St. John.