MoJ announces body-worn video cameras for every prison officer

13,000 additional cameras have been made available for prison officers while they are on shift.

Every prison officer in England and Wales now has access to a body-worn video camera while on shift.

Lord Chancellor Alex Chalk has announced that 13,000 new cameras are now available across public sector prisons in his first week in post.

The new devices have doubled the total number across the prison estate and means that they can be used every time an officer is on duty.

As of December 31 2022, there were 21,632 prison-facing Band 3-5 officers in the public-sector prison estate.

The initative follows a pilot study published in 2020 which found the cameras can improve trust between staff and prisoners.

Just recently a prisoner claimed to have been assaulted while resisting a transfer to HMP Rochester. Footage worn throughout the incident however showed that prison staff used reasonable force and the claim was thrown out.

Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary, Alex Chalk KC, said: “These new, improved video cameras are proving highly effective at preventing vexatious claims by prisoners, calming volatile situations, and keeping our dedicated prison officers and our prisons safe.

“Other security measures including synthetic pepper spray, x-ray body scanners and airport style security are helping turn prisoners away from crime and towards purposeful activity.”