University of Canterbury Enhances Campus Safety and Accountability with Zepcam Bodycams

Overview

The University of Canterbury (UoC) in New Zealand, home to 26,000 students, faced significant challenges with their previous body camera system. Seeking a reliable and effective solution to enhance staff safety, provide irrefutable evidence, and improve situational awareness, UoC adopted Zepcam body-worn cameras. This case study explores their journey from problematic legacy systems to a seamlessly integrated and highly effective security solution.

The Challenge: Unreliable Technology and Lack of Context

Before implementing Zepcam, UoC's security team relied on an older brand of bodycams that presented numerous operational hurdles:

• • Battery Issues: Frequent battery problems, including bulging and unreliability.
    
    
  • Operational Difficulty: Cameras were hard to operate, leading to instances where staff believed they were recording when they weren't.
    
    
  • Footage Retrieval: Extracting footage was a cumbersome process, creating more problems than it solved.
    
    
  • Lack of Real-time Awareness: The previous system lacked live-feed capabilities, hindering the control room's ability to respond to incidents in real-time.

With a large student population spread across campus and surrounding flats, and an increasing scope of responsibilities including student welfare checks and mental health patient transport, UoC critically needed a robust and dependable bodycam solution.

The Solution: Zepcam's Advanced Features and Seamless Integration, Supported by Tactical Solutions

UoC initially deployed six Zepcam units and, impressed by their performance, quickly expanded to equip all patrol staff. Tactical Solutions, as the local distributor, played a crucial role in getting UoC up and running with the Zepcam system and continues to provide ongoing support. Zepcam addressed UoC's challenges through several key features:

• • Ease of Use and Reliability: Zepcam cameras proved easy to operate, search, and were consistently reliable, drastically reducing issues experienced with previous systems.
    
    
  • Live Feed Capability: The live feed feature allows the control room operator to see incidents unfold in real-time, enabling immediate and accurate relay of information to police and other responders.
    
    
  • GPS Tracking: Integrated GPS tracking provides precise location data for security personnel, enhancing their safety.
    
    
  • Pre-Event Recording: Zepcam's ability to capture two minutes of footage before the record button is pressed is crucial for providing vital context, ensuring no critical moments are missed.
    
    
  • Seamless Integration: Through the expertise of Tactical Solutions, the Zepcam units seamlessly integrate into UoC's existing Geutebrück CCTV system, creating a unified security network of over 700 cameras. Tactical Solutions acted as the vital integrator, ensuring Zepcam and Geutebrück systems communicate effectively.
    
    
  • Staff ID Card Linking: The system links staff ID cards to cameras via a scanner, ensuring clear documentation of who used which camera and when, which is invaluable for evidential purposes.
    
    
  • Redaction Tools: Built-in redaction tools allow UoC to manage privacy concerns effectively, particularly for Official Information Act requests or when footage needs to be shared externally.

The Benefits: Enhanced Safety, Accountability, and Efficiency

The adoption of Zepcam has yielded significant benefits for the University of Canterbury:

• • Force Multiplier: University of Canterbury Security Manager Ken McEwen considers that Zepcam acts as "another team member," enabling a small security team to manage a large student population more effectively. The control room's real-time visibility provides a powerful layer of support without staff needing to call for help.
    
    
  • Irrefutable Evidence and Context: Bodycam footage provides crucial context, showing the lead-up to incidents, not just the aftermath. This has been invaluable in disproving false complaints against staff, particularly during protests, and has impressed police.
    
    
  • Improved Incident Management: Live feeds and GPS tracking allow for better coordination and response during incidents, enhancing overall safety for both staff and students.
    
    
  • Protection for Staff: In an environment where staff are frequently filmed by the public, UoC's own footage protects their team by providing an accurate account of events.
    
    
  • Cost-Effective Safety: Ken notes that while there are ongoing costs, Zepcam is a "small price for a lot of added value" when compared to the university's overall CCTV expenditure.

Advice for Other Organisations

Ken's advice to other universities and organisations considering body-worn cameras is clear:

"In today’s environment, where everyone has a camera and can film our staff, it’s essential to have our own footage. That way we can provide context and protect our people."

He emphasizes the importance of features like pre-event recording and live feed capabilities as crucial safety layers, particularly when managing large gatherings or high-risk situations.

Conclusion

The University of Canterbury's experience demonstrates how Zepcam body-worn cameras have transformed their security operations, moving from a reactive to a proactive stance. By providing real-time awareness, irrefutable evidence, and enhanced staff safety, Zepcam has become an indispensable tool in managing campus security effectively and accountably. With the continued partnership of Tactical Solutions, UoC continues to evolve its use of the technology, looking forward to future integrations like the panic button feature.