The DVSA has today issued a major safety update for its staff by making body-worn cameras mandatory to help tackle harassment and abuse.
The move comes as part of broader safety measures to protect DVSA staff who have seen a spike in verbal and physical abuse over the years.
The cameras will be used to gather evidence of inappropriate behaviour towards staff with anyone caught being offensive risking prosecution.
The body cameras will be worn by traffic examiners, vehicle examiners, enforcement support officers and enforcement managers across the agency’s operations.
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Last year more than 300 cases of DVSA staff abuse was recorded by the agency
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The additional protective measures follow reports last year of more than 300 physical or verbal assaults on the professionals who work in the DVSA. The data also recorded two cases of physical assaults, three attempted physical assaults, 52 verbal assaults and five other assaults from learner drivers on driving examiners.
Andrew Jervis, CEO of car repair marketplace ClickMechanic, said: “There is never an excuse to lash out at DVSA employees who should have the right to carry out an important job without fear of physical or verbal attacks.
“Driving examiners do an excellent job of keeping our roads safe by ensuring only those with the required driving proficiency are allowed to hold a valid license.”
Under the new rules, DVSA staff will be required to wear the cameras during all roadside checks and operator visits. The cameras will also be mandatory during MOT scheme visits and any other enforcement activities where safety could be at risk.
CCTV cameras are also being installed at theory test centres, though these are managed separately by Pearson VUE and Reed in Partnership Limited on behalf of DVSA.
The cameras will only be activated when staff encounter threatening situations or inappropriate behaviour. This targeted approach means the devices are not recording continuously during enforcement activities.
The DVSA said it also implemented strict data protection measures, with recorded images only viewable by approved staff members whose roles require access to such data.
The recordings include both video and audio content when activated, providing comprehensive documentation of any incidents. When incidents occur, the footage will be stored securely and may be shared with police if evidence of a crime is captured.
The recordings will be kept for 30 days in cases of body-worn camera footage.Where footage is needed as evidence, it will be stored separately and securely until any investigation concludes.
If the media requests access to recorded material, the DVSA explained it will use redaction software to protect the identities of staff and other individuals.
Meanwhile, where footage is used in disciplinary investigations against DVSA staff, it will be securely stored for three years after the investigation concludes.
The agency noted that it will not sell or rent the data to third parties or share it for marketing purposes. Members of the public can also request access to their personal information captured by CCTV footage and body-worn cameras.
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The DVSA will require all staff to wear body cameras in bid to increase security and safety
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This latest mandate builds on DVSA’s existing experience with body-worn cameras, which have been used by roadside enforcement examiners for several years.
Jervis added: “A driving test is a high-pressure situation and learners don’t always receive the pass they were hoping for, which is naturally disappointing. It’s vital [DVSA staff] are allowed to conduct their duties in the proper manner and that learner drivers remain in control of their emotions through the whole test process.”