The government has confirmed it will roll out body cameras for staff at the prison, but has ruled it out for NSC staff.

Last year Chief Minister Howard Quayle told Tynwald he expected the protection devices to be rolled out following trials with the police.

The cameras aim to protect staff by filming everything that happens in front of them for use as evidence, similar to CCTV.

When Mr Quayle was responding to a Tynwald question from Daphne Caine MHK (Garff), he said that the technology would be used at the prison and potentially at Manx Sport and Recreation (MSR) premises such as the NSC.

At the time, we reported Mr Quayle said: ’Manx Sport and Recreation has been considering whether to introduce the use of these [cameras] for staff that work alone in the outdoor facilities of the National Sports Centre and possibly at certain times in the indoor areas.’

However, a government spokesman has now confirmed that the cameras will be introduced at the prison, but not MSR sites.

The spokesman said: ’There are no plans for them to be worn by staff at the NSC. There are plans for them to be introduced at the prison.

Anti-social

’There had been a series of anti-social behaviour acts at the NSC, which is why provisional plans were put into place.

’This has now been resolved with improved CCTV.’

Bodycams have recently been introduced more widely to the island’s police force with Sergeant Gareth John saying the cameras will ’become as common a sight as an officer’s radio or handcuffs and they have been deployed internationally with great success’.