Montreal police announced that portable body‑worn cameras will be deployed across the city beginning in August 2026. The Montreal Police Service (SPVM) said the rollout follows a trial phase that demonstrated the equipment’s effectiveness and aligns with a ten‑year plan to improve relations with the public.
The decision was made public last month after the SPVM completed a testing period for the portable cameras. During that phase, officers used the devices in a limited number of patrols to assess functionality and impact on interactions with citizens. The service concluded the trial was successful and that the cameras met operational requirements.
According to the SPVM, the citywide deployment will involve equipping officers with the portable units as part of standard equipment. The move is intended to strengthen trust between police and the communities they serve, a goal the department has highlighted in recent years.
The rollout is scheduled for August 2026, and the SPVM indicated that the cameras will be used in a variety of policing activities throughout Montreal. The service has not disclosed the exact number of units that will be distributed, but it confirmed that the implementation will be coordinated across all precincts.
The portable body‑worn camera program is part of a broader strategy that the SPVM has been developing over the past decade. The ten‑year framework aims to modernize policing tools and practices while fostering transparency and accountability.
Officials said the cameras will record video and audio during police‑citizen encounters, providing a documented record that can be reviewed later. The SPVM emphasized that the technology will be employed in accordance with existing privacy regulations and departmental policies.
The announcement marks the next step after the earlier test phase and reflects the service’s commitment to adopting tools that support its objectives of public confidence and effective law enforcement.