Photo: HSL
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Ticket inspectors working for Helsinki Regional Transport (HSL) are taking part in a three-month bodycam trial starting Tuesday 15 October. The cameras, which record video and audio, are aimed at improving safety for staff and passengers.
The devices will not be active continuously. Inspectors will turn them on only when necessary, particularly in situations where safety may be at risk. Routine inspections without disturbances will not be recorded.
The trial follows an increase in safety-related incidents across HSL’s public transport network, although such events remain rare. According to HSL, the number of threatening encounters faced by inspectors has risen.
Satu Koskinen, head of the ticket inspection unit at HSL, said the organisation is exploring all options to strengthen safety.
“Safety is extremely important to us. All measures that could improve safety for staff and passengers deserve to be considered,” Koskinen said. “We are now piloting body cameras, which have produced positive results in other organisations by reducing risks and threats.”
The bodycams are attached to the inspectors’ clothing. When activated, they record both audio and video. The trial will involve only some inspectors, with the results assessed after the pilot ends in mid-January 2026.
The evaluation will focus on whether the presence of cameras helps prevent incidents and improves overall safety on buses, trains, and trams.
Data protection rules govern all use of the cameras. HSL stated that footage will only be reviewed in justified cases. Access to the recordings is restricted to a limited number of authorised personnel. The inspectors wearing the cameras cannot access the recordings themselves.
The transport authority confirmed compliance with the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Finnish data protection laws. Personal data collected during inspections will only be processed when necessary.
If the outcome of the trial supports continued use, HSL said the bodycams may become a permanent tool for inspectors.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
