Noosa cops miss out on camera roll-out

ALMOST 3000 body worn cameras have been delivered to 26 police stations throughout Queensland, but Noosa, Cooroy and Coolum stations have all missed out.
The state-wide roll-out of the cameras comes after a successful trial on the Gold Coast and now more than $6 million has been allocated over three years to provide body worn cameras (BWC) to
frontline police.
Maroochydore station is one of the key locations across Queensland to receive cameras, but local police officers will have to wait.
Noosa Head Officer-in-Charge Senior Sergeant Steve McReight, who started wearing a voice recorder in the 1980s, said his officers saw the value in wearing the cameras and had bought their own.
“They’re great for collecting evidence and then using it in court,” he said.
Sen Sgt McReight said his team faced the same issues of violence and abuse as officers throughout the state, but understood budget restraints might restrict who got the cameras.
Police Minister Bill Byrne said the roll-out of 2700 cameras would help officers in dealing with serious incidents such as alcohol-fuelled violence and domestic and family violence through enhanced
evidence gathering.
The roll-out is expected to be completed in November, but there is still no word whether Noosa, Cooroy or Coolum police will receive cameras.