RCMP will lay out its plans for the use of body-worn cameras in this province today.

It’s part of a national deployment of body cams and new digital evidence management system rolling out this month in about 10 per cent of all RCMP detachments.

Over the next nine months, about 1,000 frontline RCMP officers, per month, will begin using body-worn cameras and the new digital system.

And by this time next year, it’s expected that 90 per cent of frontline members will be using body cams with full deployment within the next 18 months.

But it begs the question: What about the RNC?

Justice Minister Bernard Davis says there have been many meetings on the topic and discussions are ongoing as we speak.

“We’ve had many conversations with the RNC about moving forward with body cameras. That’s in process now in the department, in talks, as to how that would look, how that would feel,” he said.

“Obviously, the RCMP, they’ve made that decision, which we support heavily, and we’ll be working hard to work with both police forces to give them all the tools they need to make sure there’s huge public confidence in policing as well as safety for the officers who do fantastic work.”

The use of body cams has been controversial in many jurisdictions, with some supporting them as a deterrent and critical asset in criminal investigations.

Others, however, have raised various privacy concerns.

Today’s news conference is scheduled for 1 p.m. at RCMP headquarters in St. John’s, and VOCM News will be there.