BHSCT Body Worn Cameras Proposal

Overview

Belfast Health and Social Care Trust plans to run a six‑month pilot using Body‑Worn Cameras (BWCs) in our Adult Emergency Departments at the Royal Victoria Hospital and the Mater Hospital.  Body Worn Cameras will then be introduced in other service areas (as required) subject to the evaluation of the pilot and fulfilment of our Equality, Human Rights, Involvement and Data Protection obligations each time.

The proposal is in response to a sharp rise in violence and aggression towards staff.  Between 2019 and 2024 there were 26,288 incidents of physical and verbal abuse against Belfast Trust staff.  In particular, staff in our Emergency Departments face sustained and escalating levels of violence, aggression, and abuse.  The incidents occur against a backdrop of overcrowding, long waits for assessment and admission, and high levels of alcohol and substance-related presentations. 

We hope that BWCs will help reduce violence and aggression towards staff and make our hospitals and services safer for everyone.  The Trust’s aim is to deter, de‑escalate and document abusive behaviour and to create a safer environment for staff, patients, service users, carers  and visitors. 

BWCs will always be used in a proportionate way for a legitimate purpose. They will only be used by trained staff who volunteer to wear them, and will be activated during incidents where abuse, threats or assault are occurring or likely to occur. Cameras will be overt, never hidden, and will not be used during personal care or in private spaces eg bathrooms. Public and Privacy Notices will be displayed to explain that BWCs may be used. Footage will be securely stored and automatically deleted unless needed for an incident investigation.

The proposal to use BWCs has been developed following significant engagement with staff and key stakeholders and is aligned to the regional HSC Management of Violence and Aggression (MoVA) framework and Belfast Trust Zero‑Tolerance ethos.  A full Data Protection Impact Assessment and draft Equality Impact Assessment have been completed.

Your Voice Matters

We want to hear your views before making any decisions about using Body Worn Cameras.

You can have your say on our proposal by reading the documents below and answering the questions on pages to follow.

You can also register to attend one of our events.  Details provided below.

Together, we can make our hospitals and service safer for everyone - staff, patients, carers and visitors.

We are committed to providing an inclusive public consultation.  If you require any documents in alternative formats please contact equality.team@belfasttrust.hscni.net

 

 

 

 

 

 

Find our More and Have Your Say

Share your views

Closes 17 Apr 2026

Opened 23 Jan 2026

Contact

Estella Dorrian

(Interim Corporate Planning and Equality Lead)

estella.dorrian@belfasttrust.hscni.net

Events

Audiences

  • General Public

Interests

  • Provision of health and social care services