The City of Vancouver issued a tender for the supply of body-worn cameras for a six-month pilot project with the parking enforcement and operations team.

The pilot project is part of the city’s approach for dealing with increasing reports of abuse and violence against staff, according to Vancouver spokesperson Fiona Hughes. Last fall, staff from the Office of the Chief Safety Officer gave a presentation to council revealing that city workers are experiencing a spike in inappropriate behaviour on the job, including intimidation, aggression and physical violence. Parking enforcement officers in particular said they experienced verbal abuse and even threats from the public almost every day.