The Hamilton Police Services (HPS) board is exploring the use of in-car cameras as a way to help "build public trust," a move at least one Hamilton lawyer says if done properly could be an opportunity to increase police accountability.

"If it's used as an accountability tool, that's one thing to review what happened," says Wade Poziomka, a human rights lawyer and partner of ​​Ross & McBride LLP. "But if it's used as a surveillance tool for police as part of criminal investigation, and things of that nature, that's where I'd have a concern."

A video-technology report was presented in the HPS board meeting last week by acting superintendent for HPS division 2, Mike Spencer, which outlined the possibility for Hamilton police to apply for expected new provincial funding to implement in-car camera and automatic licence plate reader systems.

Spencer explained at the meeting Thursday that in-car cameras include a front-facing camera that allows for multiple-lane recording and a rear-facing camera that captures the backseat of police vehicles.

He also said the technology will also be used to scan and monitor licence plates.

"Some of the other advantages that we see in digital in-car cameras are the ability to livestream," he said. "Obviously the evidentiary benefit and the transparency of our interactions which will only help to maintain and build public trust."

Poziomka said video footage from in-car cameras could provide important evidence when a serious incident occurs but there needs to be strict parameters about how the technology is used by police.

For instance, police officers should not have the discretion to decide when a camera is on or off and there should be controlled access to who can review that footage, including police, he said.

"These cannot become weapons of the police," Poziomka said. "They have to be guided by an open and transparent policy that says when they will be recording and when they won't be.

"In terms of whether I would recommend it or not would really depend on that policy and who had access, when could they record and what would the information be used for," he said.

In the presentation to the HPS board last week, Spencer referenced a study by the University of Montreal which looked at how officers used cameras and the potential for a negative impact on public trust.

"This, for us, makes it very clear and enforces the need for a clear policy, robust training and active supervision when employing any type of recording devices," Spencer said.

Development of the new provincial grant program is currently underway, according to Spencer, and a call for applications will be issued to police services from the ministry with additional details on the eligibility criteria in coming weeks.

In the meantime, the HPS board says it will hold a special meeting to discuss applying for the funding and look at a possible pilot program.