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Obama asks Congress to fund 50,000 police body cameras Obama asks Congress to fund 50,000 police body cameras
(about 3 hours later)
US President Barack Obama has requested $263m (£167m) to improve police training, pay for body cameras and restore trust in policing.US President Barack Obama has requested $263m (£167m) to improve police training, pay for body cameras and restore trust in policing.
Mr Obama asked Congress for the funds as part of a day of White House meetings following a week of unrest. Mr Obama asked Congress for the funds after a week of nationwide protests over perceived policing injustices.
Ferguson in Missouri was rocked by riots after a grand jury failed to charge a white police officer in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man.Ferguson in Missouri was rocked by riots after a grand jury failed to charge a white police officer in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man.
Protests spread across the US over perceived policing injustices. Protests spread across the US and a mass walkout was held on Monday.
On Monday, students and workers held a lunchtime walkout in several cities to highlight the issue. Students and workers held a lunchtime protest in several cities to highlight the issue.
The funds requested by Mr Obama would be spread over three years and go toward purchasing 50,000 body cameras for police officers as well as resources to reform law enforcement departments. "This is not a problem just of Ferguson, Missouri. This is a national problem, Mr Obama said. "But it's a solvable problem."
Post-Ferguson plan
The president spoke after a day of meetings with mayors, civil rights leaders and law enforcement officials at the White House.
They discussed a programme that currently provides redundant US military tactical gear to local police departments, free of charge.
Mr Obama said he has asked federal agencies for recommendations to ensure the programme is not building a "militarised culture" in domestic police forces.
Police in Ferguson, Missouri, were criticised for being heavy-handed in dealing with protests sparked by the shooting of Michael Brown in August.
The funds requested by Mr Obama would be spread over three years and some of the money will go towards purchasing 50,000 body cameras for police officers as well as resources to reform law enforcement departments.
Body cameras can provide evidence of encounters between police and civilians, particularly in disputed cases such as the Ferguson shooting.Body cameras can provide evidence of encounters between police and civilians, particularly in disputed cases such as the Ferguson shooting.
"The initiative as a whole will help the federal government efforts to be a full partner with state and local [law enforcement agencies] in order to build and sustain trust between communities and those who serve and protect these communities," the White House wrote in a statement. The president said the stories of discrimination that young people had told him at the White House on Monday "violate my belief about what America can do".
The US leader will also create a taskforce on modern policing, to be chaired by Philadelphia police commissioner Charles Ramsey. He also unveiled a taskforce on modern policing, to be chaired by Philadelphia police commissioner Charles Ramsey.
The White House has currently declined to reform the use of military-grade equipment by police departments, however. Also on Monday, a commission tasked with making recommendations on issues stemming from the fatal shooting has convened in Ferguson.
The distribution of redundant US military tactical gear to local police departments for use on civilian populations has been an issue of late.
Ferguson day at the White House
St Louis Rams ignite Ferguson debate
The announcements follow a series of meetings at the White House with civil rights leaders to discuss mistrust between law enforcement and communities of colour.
Issues raised by protests in Ferguson were to be discussed with civil rights leaders, police and politicians.
"The president and his administration are very focused on the underlying issues that have been uncovered in a pretty raw way in Ferguson," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said on Monday.
The officer at the centre of the storm, Darren Wilson, resigned from the force over the weekend.
Also on Monday, a commission tasked with making recommendations on issues stemming from the fatal shooting will convene in Ferguson.
The 16-member panel, stood up by Missouri Governor Jay Nixon, will consider changes in areas including public interaction with law enforcement and community stability.The 16-member panel, stood up by Missouri Governor Jay Nixon, will consider changes in areas including public interaction with law enforcement and community stability.
Meanwhile, police officers in the Missouri city of St Louis have called for black members of a professional US football team to be disciplined following a public demonstration on Sunday. The officer who shot Brown in Ferguson, Darren Wilson, resigned from the force over the weekend.
The members of the St Louis Rams team stood with their hands raised - in perceived solidarity with shooting victim Michael Brown - prior to a game.
One day earlier, the officer who shot Brown announced his plans to leave the police force to avoid putting his colleagues at risk.
The decision not to charge Mr Wilson days earlier triggered a nationwide debate over relations between black communities and law enforcement.The decision not to charge Mr Wilson days earlier triggered a nationwide debate over relations between black communities and law enforcement.
The policeman said he had feared for his life.The policeman said he had feared for his life.
Brown's supporters said the teenager was attempting to surrender when he was shot. Some witnesses said the 18-year-old, who was unarmed, had his hands up.Brown's supporters said the teenager was attempting to surrender when he was shot. Some witnesses said the 18-year-old, who was unarmed, had his hands up.
US Attorney General Eric Holder is also set to address the events in Ferguson during a forum in Atlanta, Georgia, on Monday evening.
Civic and community leaders have been invited to attend the event.
The scene of the shooting