HSL bodycam trial has officially begun in Helsinki as ticket inspectors start wearing body cameras from Tuesday, 15 October. The three-month pilot project aims to improve safety for both staff and passengers across the city’s public transport system.
The cameras will not record continuously. Instead, inspectors will activate them only when necessary, particularly during situations that could pose safety concerns. Regular ticket checks without disturbances will not be filmed.
The initiative follows a steady rise in incidents involving aggressive or threatening behavior on buses, trains, and trams within the Helsinki Regional Transport (HSL) network. Although serious cases remain rare, the increase has prompted the transport authority to test additional security measures.
Satu Koskinen, who heads HSL’s ticket inspection unit, explained that the organisation is reviewing every possible way to enhance safety.
“Safety is extremely important to us. We want to consider all steps that could protect both our passengers and our employees,” she said. “Body cameras have shown positive results in other organisations by helping to prevent conflicts and reduce threats.”
The bodycams are attached to inspectors’ uniforms and are capable of recording both video and sound. Only selected inspectors will take part in the trial, which is scheduled to run until mid-January 2026. Once the pilot ends, HSL will evaluate its impact and decide whether to expand the program.
The assessment will focus on whether visible cameras help deter aggressive encounters and create a more secure environment for everyone using public transport.
HSL also emphasized that the use of these cameras is strictly regulated by data protection laws. Recorded footage will only be reviewed when there is a justified reason, and access will be limited to authorized personnel. Inspectors wearing the cameras will not be able to view or handle the recordings themselves.
All data handling will comply fully with the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Finnish privacy legislation. Any personal data collected will only be processed when it is genuinely needed for safety or legal purposes.
If the evaluation shows positive results, HSL may adopt body cameras as a permanent safety tool for its inspectors in the future.
