AFM Plans Body Cameras and GPS Tracking for Detainee Escorts

The Financial Monitoring Agency has proposed new rules for escorting detainees, including body cameras, GPS tracking and three security levels, Orda.kz reports.

Under the draft rules, the entire process — from taking custody of a detainee to handing them over at a detention facility — would be recorded using body cameras.

Recordings would be stored for at least 30 days. Footage related to alleged torture would be retained until the court ruling in the case becomes final.

Special Vehicles and GPS

Detainees could be transported only in specially equipped vehicles or by air or rail. Transporting them on commuter trains, buses or other public transport would be prohibited.

Official vehicles could be used in exceptional cases, but only with written authorization.

Special vehicles would have to be equipped with flashing beacons, radios, intercoms, video recorders with audio and GPS trackers connected to the duty unit’s control center. Officers would continuously monitor the route by radio and GPS.

Three Escort Levels

The AFM proposes three levels of security:

• Standard escort: two officers accompanying one or two detainees.
• Enhanced escort: used when there is a risk of escape or when a detainee is transported between settlements.
• Special escort: used for people accused of serious crimes or involved in high-profile cases. All escort officers would be armed and required to wear body armor.

Escort officers would be prohibited from changing or disclosing the route, leaving detainees unattended, engaging them in unnecessary conversation or accepting items from them.

Orda.kz previously reported that a man convicted of theft escaped from an escort vehicle in Almaty and remained at large for two weeks before being detained.

Original author: Eva Golovintseva

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