RMT BODY WORN VIDEO CAMERA GUIDANCE

Our ref: HSR

Head Office Circular: NP/124/24

21^st May 2024

To: The Secretary

ALL BRANCHES

ALL SHIPPING BRANCHES

REGIONAL COUNCILS

 

Dear Colleague

 

RMT BODY WORN VIDEO CAMERA GUIDANCE

 

In January 2022, your National Executive Committee (NEC) considered a report from its Health and Safety sub-committee, from when it met to discuss briefing documents relating to a project aimed at encouraging the greater use of body worn video (BWV) across the rail industry. This joint project from Rail Delivery Group (RDG) and British Transport Police (BTP) is aimed at encouraging the use of BWV as one of the key tools to prevent violence against rail staff. 

 

The report adopted by the NEC was as follows:

 

We welcome this joint project by RDG and BTP which aims to “provide nationwide level guidance, best practice, and support to train operating companies (TOCs) to maximize the effectiveness of BWV use.” 

 

Given this we instruct the General Secretary to write to project organisers to explain that RMT will support the project.  But advising that that RMT policy on body worn video must be followed and that employers must have policies and procedures, agreed with the trade union, detailing how BWV will be allocated to staff and detailed statements on how the equipment is to be used and in what circumstances.  

 

Last year, it was agreed by the RMT National Health and Safety Advisory Committee that the Union’s guidance on BWV was in need of an update, together with inclusion of any relevant legislation. The redrafted guidance was placed before the Union’s solicitors for advice and subsequently placed before the NEC.

 

            At its meeting on 9^th May 2024, your National Executive Committee noted and adopted the following report from its Health and Safety Sub-committee:

 

We note the legal advice provided by our solicitors and the revised RMT guidance which incorporates this advice.

 

The General Secretary is instructed to circulate this revised guidance to members.

 

All Branches and Regional Councils to be notified

 

I am acting in line with these instructions. The revised RMT Guidance, which is being circulated to members, can be viewed here and a model BWV Policy can be viewed here; please note that this draft policy should be read as a guide for reps and should be agreed via consultation with the RMT.

 

Please bring this circular to the attention of all relevant members.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

 

Michael Lynch

General Secretary