Tobacco and Alcohol Control Officers with Body Cameras for Enhanced Safety and Enforcement

The Department of Health announced yesterday that frontline staff from the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) will begin wearing body-worn cameras starting today, aimed at improving duty performance while safeguarding the public and enforcement personnel.

The initiative allows uniformed TACO inspectors to use the cameras in an open and transparent manner. The devices will be prominently attached to the officers' uniforms, featuring a flashing red light during recording to alert individuals that they are being filmed.

According to the Department of Health, the cameras will be activated in situations involving sudden incidents, conflicts, or when deemed necessary for evidence collection. Whenever reasonably practicable, officers will notify those being recorded prior to activation. This measure is intended to protect both citizens and law enforcement staff while facilitating the gathering of evidence.

TACO has drawn on experiences from other enforcement agencies in implementing body-worn cameras, developing clear operational guidelines and providing comprehensive training for frontline personnel. Recorded footage without investigative, evidential, or other lawful value will be destroyed 31 days after the recording date to prevent the unnecessary retention of personal data.