00:00whether the use of body cameras during special operations should be mandated by law.
00:05Works and Infrastructure Minister Julian John says it is a matter that can be addressed
00:10through police procedures and regulations. But former National Security Minister Stuart Young
00:16disagrees, arguing that requirements of this nature should be clearly established in legislation.
00:22Charlotte Kesto reports.
00:25Government and the opposition are not seeing eye to eye on whether the use of body cameras by police officers
00:30should be written into law. Works and Infrastructure Minister Julian John says it doesn't have to be.
00:37It is part of their procedure. You know, it doesn't have to come in.
00:40You have to put it in law, embed it in law. If it's part of the procedure within the TPS,
00:44then it's the procedure and part of the regulations.
00:47Now, laws are expected to be followed. Procedures don't necessarily have to be followed at all times.
00:50So don't you think it's important to be included in the law?
00:52Jesus Christ. Everything can be negative. So no, no, no. Please don't. It's part of the procedure.
00:58It's part of the procedure.
00:59However, former National Security Minister Stuart Young disagrees.
01:03Speaking to members of the media outside Parliament this morning,
01:06Young accused the government of not understanding the law,
01:09arguing that there's a difference between procedure and a requirement set out in law.
01:14As is to be expected, the government are always going to shift in particular
01:18to try and rescue their prime minister, who one would expect would understand the law,
01:24at least read the law.
01:25It is clear that the use of body cam is not mandatory.
01:28In fact, it is utilizing a phraseology and law that Israeli unheard of, you know,
01:34if it is available.
01:36So it is not mandatory.
01:38But there's a lot more that will be said.
01:40Young also accused the government of being a dictatorship,
01:43claiming that the rights of citizens are being trampled upon.
01:46Our constitutional rights since the United National Congress has taken over government
01:52have been trampled all over.
01:54We have just last night come out of 12 months of states of emergency,
01:59where, as we will get into in the debate,
02:03persons, innocent people were detained.
02:06They're now released, having lost months of their lives in very cruel treatment.
02:11The disagreement comes as Parliament debates the proposed special operations bill.
02:16Sharla Kistu, TV6 News.
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