DARTMOOR National Park Authority will decide tomorrow whether to issue Park Rangers with body cameras.

It’s expected members will approve their introduction for a two-year trial period, making the Rangers’ job easier when in difficult situations or enforcing the Park’s bylaws.

A Park spokesman said: ‘The Authority’s Ranger team play an important role in helping people to access, look after and use Dartmoor. They achieve this by engaging with visitors and working with local communities.

‘In recent years our Rangers have observed an increase in anti-social and hostile behaviour by some people.

‘This is a very small proportion of the many people who do enjoy Dartmoor but the verbal abuse of our staff appears to be increasing and, in addition, we have had Rangers who have been “flashed” at, threatened with a mallet and chased.

‘These incidents are, thankfully, rare but even one such incident is unacceptable. The Authority, like all employers, has a duty to protect the health, safety and welfare of its employees.’

The cameras will only be switched on in particular circumstances, and footage could be used to support appropriate legal action such as if a member of the public was abusive or made threats to a Ranger.

The Park explained: ‘Rangers will be expected to record when they are verbally abused or threatened, when unwanted bodily contact is made, if they feel uncomfortable or vulnerable in a particular situation, or a caution is being issued with respect to the National Park bylaws.’

‘The role of our rangers is to positively engage with the public, help them enjoy the National Park and look after it. The introduction of body worn cameras will not change this role.’

In advance of tomorrow’s meeting the Park has been looking into the cost of the exercise. They have identified that 11 Reveal D3 Body Cameras would cost £4,059 (£369 per unit), with annual software subscription fees on top of that.

The Authority is recommending that members approve the trial tomorrow, adding: ‘It is not acceptable that Rangers have been subject to abuse and feel threatened in certain situations.

‘By equipping them with body worn cameras we hope they will be able to work in a safer environment and the attitudes and behaviour of a small minority of the public will be modified.

‘Evaluation will be ongoing with a formal review after 18 months to determine the impacts and assess whether to continue with their use.’