Body-Worn Cameras and PAVA in Prisons: Rules and Evidence

In shortCameras were piloted from 2015 and PAVA announced for all adult male officers on 9 October 2018; both are now governed by HMPPS policy frameworks.

The camera pilot found no statistically significant difference in assault rates between pilot and comparator sites, a variable effect on relationships, and more positive views among staff and prisoners who were well informed and had seen cameras in use. The authors said the findings were built into training and rollout.

PAVA

Pelargonic acid vanillylamide. The HMPPS review describes it as an irritant spray dispensed from a hand-held canister in a liquid stream, containing a highly concentrated synthetic version of the irritant found in peppers.

In shortBand 3 to 5 closed-estate staff collect a camera each shift; it runs a pre-record buffer, is wholly overt and has limits in sensitive places.

The framework says that as a minimum all operational Band 3 to 5 staff within the closed estate must collect a camera from the docking station at the beginning of their shift.

In the open estate, roles designated by the governor in the Local Security Strategy must do so. Governors can deploy cameras to other roles where surplus cameras exist.

The camera enters stand-by mode when removed from the dock and runs a rolling "pre-record" buffer that is saved only when the user activates recording; the saved footage then includes the back-captured buffer. Staff must complete training and understand how to use the equipment within 90 days of first drawing a camera.

In shortFootage should run uninterrupted from the start of an incident to a safe and secure end, and cameras support but never replace written statements.

The framework says recording ends when the incident has concluded to a safe and secure position or when continuing is no longer justifiable, necessary or proportionate.

The decision to stop must be recorded in the same way as the decision to start, and the reason given on camera before stopping where appropriate. The use of force framework adds that cameras should not be turned off until the prisoner is relocated, the incident is resolved and the hot debrief is complete.

In shortFootage uploads automatically and is kept for up to 90 days unless tagged; use of force footage is kept for 6 years, and statements are written before footage is viewed.

Footage is classed as official-sensitive and uploads automatically when the camera goes back in its dock. Retention needs a documented justification reviewed at least every three months, and for exceptional retention a senior manager at Band 7 or above must complete the justification.

Users cannot be given IT authority to delete data they recorded; unintentional recordings go through a deletion request to the local system administrator.

In shortAccess is controlled: viewing needs a clear, justifiable need and the Governor's express permission, and routine review is discouraged.

A line manager with the Governor's express permission may view footage for professional standards purposes where there is a clear and justifiable need. The framework says there must not be a practice of routinely reviewing footage without a clear need, which could create mistrust and lead to data protection complaints.

• Permitted purposes include use of force oversight meetings, supervision and training, investigating specific allegations or complaints, or where intelligence makes it proportionate.
• Footage may be disclosed to the police, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, HM Inspectorate of Prisons and Independent Monitoring Boards.
• Potential corruption or misconduct captured on camera must be reported through the intelligence system and under the counter-corruption and conduct policies; incidental footage of misconduct captured without the subject's knowledge cannot be ignored.
• Investigators must consider the conduct and discipline rules on disclosing relevant footage to the member of staff under investigation.
• Footage can be used in training only with care: the framework asks whether anyone is identifiable, whether the setting is sensitive and whether alternatives exist, and staff captured must give express permission (and can withdraw it).

In shortPAVA may only be used to defend against an attack or impending attack, when there is no other reasonable option and the use is proportionate.

The framework says PAVA can only be carried and used by operational staff trained and accredited in its use, working in establishments authorised to have it. Trained Band 3 to 5 officers in closed adult male prisons must carry it on duty but must not carry it beyond the establishment gate.

It cannot be taken on bed watches, escorts or external perimeter checks. In adult male open prisons it may only be carried by trained Band 3 to 5s working in night state.

It must not be used by local staff as part of a planned intervention, nor on prisoners at height or on members of the public.

In shortAftercare, reporting and review are strict: observations four times an hour, a 24-hour incident report and monthly committee review.

• Observations4 an hourMinimum, until the effects have subsided
• Incident line and DPS24 hoursReport on the single incident line and record on the Digital Prison Service
• Use of force statements72 hoursCompleted within
• Healthcare review24 hoursPrisoners must see a registered healthcare professional within this time

In shortPAVA and batons are rare techniques, footage capture varies widely between prisons, and the pilots found no clear reduction in violence.

• Reported uses of force160,897Across 121 establishments, April 2018 to March 2023 (about 40,000 a year)
• PAVA deployed0.8%323 uses; 387 on manual returns, 0.9% (2021/22)
• Baton used0.3%150 uses; 0.5% on the Digital Prison Service (2021/22)
• BWVC footage available51%Of 38,603 force records, year to March 2022

The most useful public numbers are in HMPPS's use of force evaluation, published on 24 April 2025 and covering the adult estate from April 2018 to March 2023. In April 2021 to March 2022, control and restraint was 50.5% of techniques used, handcuffs 34.7%, personal protection (SPEAR) 12.6%, PAVA 0.8% and batons 0.3%.

In shortStart the camera early, announce it, write your own statement from memory on time, and use PAVA only in the narrow circumstances allowed.

For the kit side see prison officer uniform and equipment, and for the legal basis prison officer powers and legal authority.

If you are a candidate, understand that you will be trained on this before you carry it. The foundation training covers control and restraint and de-escalation, and use of force training must be refreshed annually for front-line staff (8 hours of practical skills plus e-learning).