Montreal police announced on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, that officers will be equipped with portable body‑worn cameras that cannot be turned off at the officer’s discretion. The initiative, presented by Fady Dagher of the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM), includes a pledge to make the recorded footage publicly available.
The new camera program is intended to provide what officials describe as "total transparency and accountability" for police actions. By removing the ability to deactivate the devices, the department aims to ensure that every interaction captured on video remains intact and can be reviewed by the public and oversight bodies.
According to the announcement, all officers will receive the cameras in the coming weeks, and the equipment will be integrated into daily patrols and investigations. The SPVM has indicated that the footage will be released in accordance with existing privacy and legal standards, though specific timelines for public dissemination were not detailed.
The rollout follows a period of public scrutiny of law‑enforcement practices in Quebec’s largest city. The department framed the move as a step toward rebuilding confidence between the police and the communities they serve. By guaranteeing that recordings cannot be manually stopped, the policy seeks to address concerns that selective filming may have previously hindered full accountability.
While the program emphasizes openness, the SPVM noted that the cameras will operate within the framework of current data‑protection regulations. The department also said it will monitor the impact of the cameras on both officer conduct and public perception, though no metrics were provided at this stage.
The body‑camera initiative represents the most comprehensive effort to date by the Montreal police to standardize video documentation of police activity. The department’s commitment to public release of footage underscores a broader strategy to enhance trust and transparency in policing across the city.