Body-Worn Cameras Roll Out for UK Prison Staff, Edinburgh 2026

Key Points

• Prison guards across UK public sector jails are being equipped with body-worn cameras following a surge in assaults on staff.
• The Scottish Prison Service awarded a contract worth approximately £850,000 to roll out body-camera systems to all public sector prisons in Scotland.
• Nearly 3,000 officers were assaulted in less than a decade, with 350 attacks recorded in Scotland alone during 2024–25.
• In England and Wales, 8,516 assaults on prison officers were recorded in a 12-month period, averaging 23 attacks per day.
• Trials of body-worn video cameras took place at HMP Barlinnie, HMP Low Moss, and HMP Perth in Scotland.
• The technology aims to improve safety, gather evidence, de-escalate incidents, and enhance transparency.
• Some staff have expressed concerns that cameras may be used to monitor them rather than protect them.
• The roll-out follows high-profile deaths in custody, including Alan Marshall, Katie Allan, and William Lindsay.
• Motorola Solutions previously secured a £13.3 million contract to supply 13,000 body-worn cameras to prisons in England and Wales.
• The cameras feature front-facing screens designed to deter aggression and promote positive behaviour.

Edinburgh Crime (Edinburgh Daily) July 29, 2026 – Prison guards across the UK are being equipped with body-worn cameras after almost 3,000 officers were assaulted in less than a decade amid surging jailhouse violence, according to official data and procurement records. The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) has awarded a contract to bring the body-camera system to all public sector jails this year after figures revealed a guard is attacked by an inmate almost every day.

As reported by a source within the prison system to the Daily Record, many employees feel that the cameras are intended to monitor them rather than to improve their safety, highlighting significant disagreement and dissatisfaction among staff regarding the initiative. A representative from the SPS commented that the trial of body-worn cameras demonstrated numerous advantages in terms of safety, evidence gathering, incident de-escalation, and staff training and development, all of which have been positively received by personnel as the service strives to enhance accountability and transparency.

Why are body-worn cameras being introduced in UK prisons now?

The introduction of body-worn cameras in UK prisons comes against a backdrop of escalating violence against prison staff. Data from the SPS revealed that 350 officers experienced assaults in the 2024–25 period, marking a five-year peak. Meanwhile, recent government statistics reveal that over a 12-month period, there were 8,516 recorded assaults on prison officers in England and Wales, equating to an average of 23 attacks per day and representing a 16% increase from the previous year.

Attacks in women’s prisons are at an all-time high, with 785 incidents during that same period. The treatment of inmates by staff is also facing scrutiny following the 2023 death of Alan Marshall, 30, who passed away at HMP Edinburgh after being restrained by 17 guards at various times. In September 2025, the SPS acknowledged that his death was unlawful. Katie Allan, 21, and William Lindsay, 16, tragically took their own lives in separate instances in 2018 at HMP Polmont Young Offenders Institution, prompting an inquiry that revealed both individuals were in vulnerable positions.

How are the body cameras being deployed across Scotland?

The Scottish Prison Service has awarded Solutions a £848,000 contract to deliver a hosted and managed Body-Worn Video system to all public sector prisons in Scotland. A pilot of the use of Body-Worn Video Cameras was underway in three Scottish establishments: HMP Barlinnie, HMP Low Moss, and HMP Perth. Staff were able to use BWVCs in these locations to support evidence gathering following incidents while also enhancing positive role model behaviours between staff and those in custody.

The cameras are already used in other settings and have been found to help de-escalate incidents. They are used overtly, with staff giving a verbal indication of them being activated, and not for covert activities. A decision about further use of BWVCs was to be made after the six-month pilot. A Scottish Prison Service spokesperson stated that the health and wellbeing of staff and those in their care, and the safety, security, and good order of their establishments, are key priorities.

What technology is being used for prison body cameras?

Motorola Solutions was selected to provide 13,000 VB400 body-worn cameras to His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service officers across England and Wales in a contract signed in 2023. The VB400 body-worn camera offers high-quality video and audio capture and is equipped with an automatic pre-recording capability, helping to ensure there is a record of every interaction from start to finish. When signing off duty, officers return cameras to their docks which automatically upload and store the day’s footage to the VideoManager evidence management platform, providing a seamless and intuitive workflow.

The body-camera’s lightweight and rugged design, wide-angle field of view, and 12-hour battery life help prison staff to remain focused on the task at hand while promoting positive behaviour and interaction between staff and prisoners. Reveal body cameras, which feature front-facing screens, have proven to successfully reduce the number of complaints against both officers and prisoners alike by providing a true account of interactions. The transparent nature of recording when in a hostile situation affords extra protection for everyone involved.

How effective are body-worn cameras in reducing prison violence?

Body-worn cameras help moderate inmate behaviour by deterring and de-escalating violence and aggression. The signature front-facing screen is proven to have a calming effect on those being recorded. By capturing first-hand video and audio recordings, body cameras enhance transparency, trust, and accountability between officers and inmates. The use of body-worn cameras improves officer confidence as they feel valued and supported by having adequate safety tools, contributing to their overall health and wellbeing.

Body-worn video provides a true and complete picture of events, which can help resolve disputes and protect officers from false accusations. As reported by Inside Time, the Prison Service has been using Body-Worn Video Cameras since 2016 to improve safety in prisons and promote transparency, fairness, and trust. When switched on, they record incidents as they happen, and this footage can help to provide a clearer picture afterwards of what took place.

What concerns have prison staff raised about body cameras?

A source within the prison system shared with the Daily Record that many employees feel that the cameras are intended to monitor them rather than to improve their safety. There is significant disagreement and dissatisfaction among the staff regarding this initiative, as they perceive it to be overly invasive. They do not subscribe to the notion that it effectively reduces assaults on staff or boosts conviction rates. Many staff members will undoubtedly resist this change, according to the source.

Prison personnel are expected to resist the implementation of body-worn cameras as officials invest £850,000 in the necessary equipment, according to sources. This initiative follows a trial conducted at HMP Barlinnie, HMP Moss, and HMP Perth, subsequent to the tragic deaths of Alan Marshall, Katie Allan, and William Lindsay.

Background: How did body camera roll-outs develop in UK prisons?

The deployment of body-worn cameras in UK prisons has evolved over the past decade. The Prison Service in England and Wales began using Body-Worn Video Cameras in 2016, initially to improve safety and promote transparency. In 2023, Motorola Solutions secured a £13.3 million contract to supply 13,000 VB400 cameras to prisons across England and Wales. The Scottish Prison Service launched a pilot programme in 2025 across HMP Barlinnie, HMP Low Moss, and HMP Perth following increasing violence and high-profile deaths in custody.

The procurement process for Scotland’s full roll-out commenced in February 2026, with the SPS requiring a supplier to provide a hosted and fully managed Body-Worn Video Camera system to all public sector prison establishments in Scotland. The contract was awarded to Solutions for approximately £848,000 to deliver the system to all public sector prisons in Scotland.

Prediction: How will body cameras affect prison staff and inmates?

The introduction of body-worn cameras is expected to have significant implications for both prison staff and inmates. For prison officers, the technology may provide enhanced safety and protection from false accusations, potentially improving morale and confidence in the workplace. However, staff concerns about surveillance and invasiveness may lead to resistance and reduced cooperation with the new system, as indicated by sources within the prison system.

For inmates, the presence of body cameras may act as a deterrent to violent and aggressive behaviour, potentially reducing the frequency of assaults on staff. The transparent recording of interactions could also lead to improved accountability and fairness in the treatment of prisoners, with footage serving as evidence in investigations and court proceedings. However, the effectiveness of the technology in de-escalating incidents remains to be fully proven, and some staff doubt its efficacy as a de-escalation measure.

The overall impact on prison safety and culture will depend on how the technology is implemented, whether staff are adequately trained and supported, and whether the cameras are perceived as protective tools rather than surveillance devices.