Maldives Correctional Service officers have officially started using body-worn cameras.

"From today onwards, the front-line officers will use body worn cameras during official hours and in all situations where they have to interact with the inmates," Corrections said. Corrections added that 50 body-worn cameras are now used and the number will be increased in the coming days.

The purpose of the project is to make prison officers accountable for the care of prisoners, to assess prison conditions, and to improve the functioning of prisons based on information collected by body-worn cameras in connection with incidents in prisons.

Corrections further said that body-worn cameras will provide information for rehabilitation and collection of information required for investigation to ascertain the behaviour and condition of prisoners and to reach the root cause of incidents in prisons.

Corrections has also decided to acquire the capability of live streaming while transporting prisoners who need high security in the future.