Prison officers may be given body cameras to wear.

The results of a trial of the use of bodycams by Manx police is being awaited before a decision is made for the prison in Jurby.

However, news that staff at the National Sports Centre may also be issued with bodycams was greeted with concern by an MHK.

Responding to a Tynwald question, Chief Minister Howard Quayle said: ’The Isle of Man Prison has registered its interest in the use of body-worn cameras, with Government Technology Services, and is awaiting the outcome of the police trials.

’In the United Kingdom, body-worn cameras have shown to be an excellent aid to de-escalation and evidence gathering in prisons.’

He added: ’Manx Sport and Recreation [a government agency] 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.’

Daphne Caine (Garff) wanted to know whether MSR staff would be ’using body cameras when interacting with students or young people’.

She asked Mr Quayle whether he would have concerns if that was the case.

The Chief Minister said he would agree with any concerns Mrs Caine might have, ’but I would reiterate the point that any such use of such devices should be lawful and compliant with human rights principles’.

It was up to the individual government department involved to ensure that was the case.

Last year, the Manx police launched a six-month trial on the use of body cameras worn on uniforms.

The cameras could be turned on and off manually and were not left on as a matter of course.

Home Affairs Minister Bill Malarkey confirmed the initial trial had been successful and the force had moved on to testing out different types of camera. Those tests are yet to finish.

Footage from bodycams had been used in prosecutions, he said.