Montreal police announced a citywide rollout of portable body‑worn cameras that officers will not be able to deactivate. The Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) said the devices will stay active at all times and that the recorded footage will be released to the public, a move framed as a step toward full organizational transparency.
Chief Fady Dagher confirmed the policy during a press briefing on Friday, emphasizing that the cameras are intended to provide an uninterrupted visual record of police interactions. The chief underscored a commitment to make the video material available without restriction, aiming to foster trust between the force and the community.
According to the SPVM, the new equipment will be issued to officers across all divisions. The cameras are described as portable units that automatically record whenever an officer is on duty, eliminating the possibility of manual shutdown. The department indicated that the footage will be uploaded to a publicly accessible platform, though specific timelines for release were not detailed.
The initiative arrives amid broader calls for accountability in law‑enforcement practices. By mandating continuous recording, the SPVM seeks to create a transparent record of police activity that can be reviewed by the public and oversight bodies. The department noted that the policy applies uniformly to all officers, without exceptions for particular situations or assignments.
The rollout is scheduled to begin shortly after the announcement, with the SPVM planning to distribute the cameras to its personnel in the coming weeks. No further details on the number of devices or the technical specifications were provided in the statement.
The police service reiterated that the decision reflects its dedication to openness and accountability, positioning the body‑camera program as a cornerstone of its effort to maintain public confidence in Montreal’s law‑enforcement institutions.