Vancouver parking enforcement launches body cam pilot program due to violence against officers 

August 5,2025

RED FM News Desk

Parking enforcement officers in Vancouver are facing increasing levels of violence on the job. According to the City of Vancouver, parking enforcement officers (PEOs) were physically assaulted roughly once every two weeks in 2024. 

“Workers have been pushed to the ground, spat on, and verbally abused,” said Warren Williams, President of CUPE 15, the union representing the officers. 

To improve safety, the city has launched a pilot program starting Tuesday, equipping 15 PEOs with body-worn cameras (BWCs) for a six-month trial. The cameras aim to deter and document aggressive behaviour but will only be activated if an officer feels their safety is at risk. Officers will notify individuals when recording begins—unless doing so would be unsafe. 

The city clarified that BWCs are not intended to enforce parking rules. If violence occurs, officers will report the incident to police, who may request access to the footage. Any video not related to an investigation will be deleted after five days. 

At the end of the six-month trial, the city will compare the number of incidents involving the camera-equipped officers to those without, to assess the impact of the program.