The City of Vancouver will now provide body-worn cameras to all parking enforcement officers (PEOs), following a six-month pilot program that demonstrated a reduction in assaults and safety incidents.

The pilot, launched in August 2025 with 15 PEOs, showed a 26 per cent decline in violent incidents compared to the previous year. Officers participating in the trial also reported a higher sense of safety while performing their duties.

“We need to provide a safe working environment for our employees—they need to be safe and feel safe when they’re out doing their jobs,” said Magnus Enfeldt, Chief Safety Officer. “What we saw in the pilot and heard from staff was very encouraging. The cameras helped defuse situations and gave staff more confidence in their work knowing they were safer.”

The cameras are intended solely for safety purposes and will not be used to enforce parking regulations. Officers will activate the devices only when they feel at risk and will notify individuals that recording has begun when it is safe to do so. Recordings not linked to an investigation will be deleted within five days.

PEOs play a critical role in keeping Vancouver’s roads safe and accessible. While most public interactions are respectful, incidents of verbal and physical hostility toward officers have been rising.

Expanding the program to all PEOs is part of the city’s broader commitment to maintaining a safe and respectful workplace for frontline staff.