Thousands of New South Wales (NSW) Police officers are now mandated to switch on their body-worn cameras when exercising their powers, effective Wednesday, August 5, 2026. This policy change follows a Four Corners investigation aired in June that highlighted cases of police brutality and concerns over the improper use of body-worn cameras.

The new directive requires officers to immediately start recording when acting in an "operational capacity," including situations involving the use of force, attending serious crimes, or engaging in police pursuits. Officers who fail to activate their cameras must provide a written explanation.

The Four Corners investigation documented instances where officers did not turn on cameras until after arrests, did not wear cameras at all, or muted audio during the assault of a woman experiencing a severe mental health episode. These findings exposed allegations of a culture of impunity within the NSW Police.

Assistant Commissioner Cotter stated that a review of the standard operating procedures for body-worn video was underway and would lead to changes. The policy shift aligns with a key recommendation from a 2025 review that uncovered multiple serious incidents where officers failed to activate available body-worn cameras, including an allegation of an officer destroying footage by discarding a camera into a body of water.

Chief Commissioner Johnson emphasized the importance of the change, saying, "The knowledge that interactions between police and community members are being recorded helps to keep both the officer and the community safe."

The initiative is promoted within the NSW Police with the slogan, "When the job's on, switch on," marking a significant development in policing practices in the state.

Sources