LAHORE: The Punjab government on Tuesday rolled out body-worn cameras for its police force in a major push to “strengthen accountability, improve public safety and modernise policing”.

The project is being launched initially in Lahore on the directives of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, with trained police personnel now ready to use the cameras in the field. Installation of docking stations at police stations has also begun.

The cameras will be worn by personnel of the Punjab Police, Punjab Highway Patrol, Dolphin Force and traffic wardens while on duty. They will be linked to Smart Safe City systems operating in 43 cities across the province, allowing live monitoring through district Safe City control rooms.

Equipped with facial-recognition technology, the cameras can help identify suspects and automatically read vehicle number plates. They can also generate instant threat alerts in emergencies.

The devices provide police personnel with audio and video recording, photography and calling facilities, while built-in memory allows recordings to be stored while they are on duty.

Officers will be required to return the cameras to designated docking stations after completing their shifts. Recorded data will then be automatically transferred from the devices and securely stored.

The cameras also feature push-to-talk functionality, enabling officers to communicate directly with control rooms, as well as an SOS button for emergency alerts.

“The system would strengthen police monitoring and help curb corruption. Ensuring a sense of security among the public, particularly vulnerable segments, is the real measure of success,” the Punjab CM said in a statement.

She said protecting the lives and property of every individual in Punjab was the government’s foremost responsibility.