We, the undersigned, call on the UK Government to introduce clear legislation requiring police forces to release body-worn camera (bodycam) footage under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) — in cases where:

 • The footage relates to a closed incident or investigation,
 • No legal proceedings are ongoing, and
 • All personal information is redacted in compliance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Currently, members of the public can rarely obtain access to bodycam footage unless they were directly involved in an incident, despite this footage being recorded using taxpayer-funded equipment and stored using public resources. This lack of access prevents the public and media from holding police forces fully accountable and undermines trust in law enforcement.

In the United States, bodycam footage is routinely released (with redactions where necessary) under freedom of information laws, playing a vital role in transparency, justice, and public oversight. The UK should adopt a similar standard.

Public access to such footage would:

 • Enhance police accountability,
 • Build public trust in law enforcement,
 • Deter misconduct,
 • Allow for independent review and public awareness, and
 • Honour the principle that state power must be exercised in the open.

If the footage is appropriately redacted to protect privacy, and if the case is no longer active or under investigation, there is no sufficient reason to deny public access. We believe this is a necessary reform for a more open, democratic policing system.

We urge Parliament to act on this issue and amend FOIA or introduce new legislation to ensure that body-worn video is treated as public-interest material when appropriate.