With the dawn of the 21st-century, technology has become an integral part of law enforcement, shaping the way police officers maintain law and order. Among the array of technological innovations, the use of body-worn cameras stands out. These small, unassuming devices have revolutionized police accountability and transparency, however, they sometimes go unseen. This is not due to inadvertence but a calculated design termed as 'stealth body cameras.' These devices are subtly included into the police ensemble, remaining out of sight but not compromising on their function.

The advent of stealth body cameras has built upon the fundamental essence of body cameras which is to document encounters between the police force and members of the community. A full understanding of the effects of these advancements, however, requires exploration of how they came into being, the motive behind their development and their influence on policing practices.

The incorporation of body cameras in police work can be traced back to the 1990s, being born out of a desire to increase accountability and to provide valuable evidence in contentious situations. Initially noticeable and indicative of recordings, body cameras took a transformative turn with the development of stealth versions. The objective was to maintain their function but without being apparent. Some take the form of a badge, others like regular object on a police officer's uniform. They offer an advantage in cases where visibility of recording equipment could escalate tension or prove a danger.

The design and integration of stealth body cameras into a police officer's uniform keep the community unaware of the ongoing recording, thus leading to more natural interactions. This feature becomes crucial in incidents where visible body cameras might have instigated hostility, self-consciousness, or even forceful attempts to seize or destroy the equipment.

On the flip side, this invisibility has also opened the door to questions of privacy and surveillance. The lines have blurred. Are stealth body cameras entirely beneficial or do they push the boundaries of privacy too far? Citizens aren't always aware they're being recorded, which can lead to an uneasy feeling of constant surveillance.

In addition, the perception and reception of stealth body cameras vary significantly among both law enforcement officials and the community. Some police departments cheer the stealth mode as it prevents people from behaving differently or theatrically in the presence of visible cameras. Others argue they can create an atmosphere of distrust if the public becomes aware of them.

From the community's perspective, the feelings are just as mixed. Some feel safer knowing that their interactions are recorded without the added tension that a visible camera can bring. Others, however, see the hidden cameras as underhand, causing them to distrust the police even further.

Though in essence, these stealth cameras are designed with noble intentions, to protect and serve, they are not without controversy. Like any technological evolution, they necessitate opening a widespread debate on their ethical implications.

As we decipher the influence of these stealth devices on policing, their constitutive elements and design elicit unequivocal appreciation. Most of these devices are lightweight, blending impeccably with standard police uniform accessories. The recording quality matches, and sometimes even surpasses, the non-stealth cameras. Day or night, audio or video, the technological capabilities of these body cameras account for all variables, delivering HD resolution footage coupled with integrated audio.

The hope is that, stealthy or not, these cameras keep serving their purpose – instilling accountability, protecting both the law enforcers and the citizens, and validating the truth in the face of adversities. As technology evolves, the tools of law enforcement should adapt. However, these adaptations should involve open, public discussions about how we balance safety and privacy.

In spite of the debates hapenning across the globe, stealth body cameras are here to stay. As we continue our discourse on them, we must balance the concerns and benefits they bring. In the future, we can anticipate even more sophisticated variations of body cameras, and when they arrive, it will be necessary, as it is now, to look at them critically to ensure they serve the purpose for which they were designed.

The conversations around body cameras won＊t cease, stealthy or not. Our digital age feeds these kinds of advancements, and our ever-evolving society will continue to grapple with them - figuring out how to assimilate them into our lives while attempting to maintain the precarious balance between surveillance and privacy. As we look to the horizon, only time will tell how this unseen sentinel will continue to influence modern-day policing.