Surrey, B.C. – October 14, 2025: The Surrey Police Service (SPS) is set to launch a six-month body-worn camera (BWC) pilot project beginning October 15, 2025. As part of the initiative, 20 officers from the SPS Road Safety Section will be equipped with and will test the Axon Body 4 cameras for the duration of the project.
SPS began researching and developing its BWC program in 2021, completing a comprehensive privacy impact assessment, aligning with provincial policing standards, conducting two community consultations, and establishing detailed usage guidelines. In October 2024, the Surrey Police Board approved the purchase of 20 body-worn cameras in preparation for this pilot phase.
“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.”
Body-worn cameras are already in use by several Canadian police agencies, including those in Delta, Vancouver, Toronto, Edmonton, and Calgary. While the cameras capture only one perspective and cannot record activity outside their frame, they have demonstrated a range of benefits for both the public and law enforcement. These include enhancing transparency and trust by providing accountability during police interactions, improving evidence collection and documentation that leads to more effective prosecutions, assisting in the timely resolution of public complaints, helping de-escalate situations when individuals know they are being recorded, and providing insight into police-public interactions to improve officer training.
SPS acknowledges the privacy implications associated with BWCs and emphasizes that the cameras will not be used for continuous or indiscriminate recording. A flashing red light will indicate when recording is in progress. Officers using BWCs will record the entirety of investigative and enforcement activities, including calls for service, evidence collection, execution of search warrants, and public interactions during lawful duties.
Members of the public and media who appear in BWC recordings may request copies through the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPPA). SPS may release recordings to the public where a compelling public interest exists, except in cases where the Independent Investigations Office of B.C. (IIOBC) has asserted jurisdiction.