Surrey Police Service (SPS) is launching a six-month body-worn camera pilot project this fall. Beginning October 15, 2025, 20 SPS Road Safety Section officers will be wearing and testing the Axon Body 4 body-worn cameras (BWCs) for the duration of the pilot project. 

In 2021, SPS began researching and developing a BWC program. This process included completing a privacy impact assessment, ensuring alignment with provincial policing standards, conducting two community consultations, and developing guidelines for usage. In October 2024, the Surrey Police Board approved the purchase of 20 BWCs in preparation for the pilot.

“Through our previous community consultations, it was clear that there is very strong public support for the use of body-worn cameras in Surrey,” said Chief Constable Norm Lipinski. “The use of technology to enhance our policing service is a top priority for Surrey Police Service as we continue to develop our new, modern police service in collaboration with the community.”

BWCs are currently being used by several Canadian police agencies, including Delta, Vancouver, Toronto, Edmonton and Calgary. While these cameras can only provide one angle of an interaction and can’t capture activity happening outside of the frame, body-worn cameras have been found to offer many benefits to both the public and police. These benefits include: 

• Enhancing transparency and trust by providing the public with accountability during interactions with police officers.
• Improving evidence collection and documentation, supporting more successful prosecutions.
• Resolving public complaints in a timely manner.
• De-escalating the behaviour of individuals who are aware that recording is in progress.
• Providing more insight into police and public encounters, which will inform improvements to police training. 

SPS understands that the use of BWCs can have significant privacy implications. Officers must always balance the law enforcement objective against possible privacy concerns. BWCs will not be used for continuous or indiscriminate recording. When recording, the public will see a flashing red light on the BWC.

SPS officers deployed with BWCs will record the entirety of all investigative and enforcement activities, including at calls for service, and when capturing evidence, executing search warrants, and interacting with the public during the lawful execution of police duties. 

Members of the public and media, including those who appear in a BWC recording, may request a copy of a recording from SPS in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPPA). SPS may release BWC recordings to the public and media where a “compelling public interest” exists, however recordings cannot be released in any case where the IIOBC has asserted jurisdiction. Learn more about requesting SPS records at www.surreypolice.ca/information-and-privacy. 

For more information on how BWCs will be used by SPS, including SPS’s directive governing the use of BWCs during the pilot project, visit Body-Worn Cameras | Surrey Police.