If introduced across Africa on a larger scale, body-worn cameras could transform public opinion on policing.
By Michael Akuchie
Although law enforcement agencies such as the Army and Civil Defence may exist within a country, these groups rarely appear on the streets unless public unrest necessitates their intervention. However, it is common to see police officers on patrol. Empowered by the constitution to protect a country’s citizens, the police serve as the first line of defence against all forms of wrongdoing, ranging from petty theft to organised crime.
In an ideal world, the police symbolise law and order, commanding respect from citizens. Unfortunately, in many countries around the world, policing structures have been criticised for encouraging the use of extreme—and sometimes lethal—force in subduing protesters, robbery suspects, and even innocent civilians.
Across Africa, public contempt for the police has risen in recent years. During the Finance Bill protests that shook Kenya in 2024, reports of widespread police brutality flooded social media. From the casual use of batons to subdue protesters to the firing of live ammunition, the incident further eroded Kenyans’ trust in the police. The EndSARS demonstrations in Nigeria in 2020 only amplified a public outrage that had been building for several years. In the aftermath of the unrest, little has been done to shift public opinion on the current style of policing. A human rights group, Global Rights, revealed that 848 extrajudicial killings were recorded between 2020 and 2023.
In April 2025, the South African government announced a pilot project in which 40 body-worn cameras would be used by its border security agents. The rationale behind this initiative is to root out corruption when dealing with major crimes such as illegal mining, drug smuggling, and human trafficking. To ensure that the footage captured by the cameras is admissible in court, a Digital Evidence Management System will be used to store the data.
The Metropolitan Police defines body-worn video cameras as “small, visible devices worn attached to the officers’ uniform (usually on the chest).” Body-worn cameras serve several purposes. For instance, they can be used to gather evidence of police activity in the field and can help a judge and jury determine whether a suspect is guilty or not. At the end of each day, police officers upload the footage to a secure server that cannot be easily tampered with. While body-worn cameras remain a rare sight in African policing, they are common in the United States and the UK. In the US, 47% of the country’s general-purpose law enforcement agencies have acquired body-worn cameras for daily use.
If introduced across Africa on a larger scale, body-worn cameras could transform public opinion on policing. For starters, they would encourage greater accountability from police officers. When worn during duty, the body camera acts as an independent witness, recording the officer’s actions—whether commendable or questionable.
Knowing that their behaviour is being closely monitored, African police officers may feel a stronger obligation to conduct themselves appropriately throughout their shifts. This could significantly reduce cases of extortion at roadblocks and in other public spaces. It may also deter trigger-happy officers from unjustly taking citizens’ lives under the guise of performing their duties.
Like every government agency, the police have a public relations department tasked with maintaining a healthy relationship with the public. Unfortunately, recent cases of police brutality, corruption, and unlawful detention have given citizens more reasons to distrust law enforcement.
One ingenious way for the police in Africa to regain and solidify public trust is by adopting body-worn cameras. By transparently recording interactions between police officers and civilians—such as during traffic stops or investigations into domestic disturbances—the public can gain a clearer view of what a typical day in the life of an officer entails.
Body-worn cameras can also enhance the quality of policing by protecting officers against false allegations. An officer may be accused of misconduct even when innocent. Admittedly, it can be difficult for the public to sympathise with the police due to the agency’s chequered history. However, the ability to retrieve and review footage of an incident can make a significant difference between an innocent officer being punished or exonerated. As previously mentioned, the body-worn camera serves as an independent witness. It does not aim to favour either the public or the police; its sole purpose is to reveal the truth.
While a body-worn camera initiative could help improve policing across African countries, it is important to consider the potential challenges. Procuring body cameras for the police would require a substantial budgetary allocation, particularly for nationwide deployment. Beyond the initial purchase of the equipment, governments would also need to budget for ongoing maintenance and the cloud storage of footage.
In countries like Nigeria, the maintenance culture surrounding public infrastructure—such as bus stations, bridges, and even buildings—has long been poor. Structures built just two or three years ago are often found in a dilapidated state, reflecting a clear lack of care. Beyond purchasing the equipment, African countries must ensure that police officers are properly sensitised on how to care for body-worn cameras. Where possible, a monitoring committee should be established with a specific focus on preventing premature damage to the devices.
In today’s world of recurring data breaches, any African country looking to implement body-worn cameras must put in place a robust cloud storage system for the footage. This would make it significantly harder for hackers to breach the storage hub and tamper with evidence.
There is also the concern that some corrupt officers may selectively record their daily activities. For instance, an officer harbouring ill intentions during a stop and search may switch off the camera in order to extort a motorist or, worse, use excessive force. Without footage of the incident, the officer can easily deny any wrongdoing if the matter is reported. This has occurred in the past. Officers should be strictly cautioned against tampering with the camera’s on/off switch, as such actions not only compromise the integrity of the technology but also undermine efforts to make the police force more accountable.
Africa’s policing system is in desperate need of a complete overhaul. From corruption and unwarranted arrests to extrajudicial killings, public concern over the conduct of law enforcement agents has intensified in recent years.
Fortunately, body-worn cameras have the potential to restore public confidence in the police and usher in a new era of meaningful collaboration between law enforcement and the community. These small devices can become tools of integrity, but only if officers use them with the utmost professionalism.
Michael Akuchie is a tech journalist with five years of experience covering cybersecurity, AI, automotive trends, and startups. He reads human-angle stories in his spare time. He’s on X (fka Twitter) as @Michael_Akuchie & michael_akuchie on Instagram.