By: Isuru Parakrama
November 01, Colombo (LNW): In a significant move towards transparency and accountability, Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Priyantha Weerasooriya has announced that members of the public are permitted to film police officers while they are performing their duties.
This directive, issued on Wednesday (30), aims to clarify the legal standing of public recording and to safeguard the rights of citizens during interactions with law enforcement.
The Acting IGP emphasised that the act of recording police activities is neither illegal nor prohibited by law, countering previous instances where police personnel have allegedly harassed individuals for filming or seized their devices.
In some cases, people have even faced arrest simply for documenting police conduct.
The Acting IGP’s statement serves to rectify these misunderstandings, asserting that there is no legal framework preventing citizens from capturing such interactions on video.
Weerasooriya further noted that many of the incidents where police officers have responded negatively to being recorded often involved behaviours that were already unlawful, undisciplined, or unethical.
The availability of video evidence from the public could lead to disciplinary measures against officers involved in such conduct.
He also highlighted the potential for these recordings to be used as evidence in both criminal and civil cases, citing the Evidence (Special Provisions) Act No. 14 of 1995, which allows for unedited footage to be presented in legal proceedings.
However, the Acting IGP did caution that any recordings edited in a manner that incites animosity towards the police could result in legal repercussions for those involved.
He clarified that while the right to film remains protected, any misuse of that footage to foster hatred or unrest will not be tolerated.
This announcement follows a recent incident in Wariyapola, where a police officer, the Traffic Officer in Charge, allegedly threatened a citizen who was filming an accident involving a former state minister’s vehicle.
The officer reportedly confiscated the individual’s mobile device and arrested him, only to release him later after a reprimand.
Public Security Minister Vijitha Herath condemned the officer’s actions, stating that it is fundamentally wrong for law enforcement to intimidate individuals exercising their right to record such events.
The new policy reflects an ongoing effort to enhance public trust in law enforcement, ensuring that police officers act within the boundaries of the law while upholding the rights of citizens.
