DCC Gareth Pritchard hands the cameras to one of the association's representatives. Photo: North Wales Police

Mountain rescuers are to be equipped with body-mounted video cameras for use at fatal incidents.

Three of the cameras have been supplied by North Wales Police to teams in the area, whose expertise is vital in gathering information when there have been deaths on the hills.

The force’s deputy chief constable Gareth Pritchard handed the cameras to North Wales Mountain Rescue Association, the umbrella body representing six teams, including Search and Rescue Dogs Association and cave rescue.

A police spokesperson said North Wales Police and NWMRA share a protocol for dealing with fatal incidents in difficult-to-reach areas and together train mountain rescue team members on the recovery of evidence, still and video photography and evidential matters.

The new cameras will help volunteers from the teams gathering evidence at the scene which will assist police and the coroner, helping to bring closure to families and loved ones of victims of fatal mountain incidents.

DCC Pritchard said: “I am delighted to be able to present the North Wales mountain rescue teams with these three new Reveal cameras.

“These cameras are tried and tested, having been used for some time now by our frontline officers in the most challenging of conditions.

“As we know, there is a clear benefit to their use in achieving best evidence at serious and fatal incidents which thankfully are few and far between in the mountains of North Wales. I am ever thankful for the continued support and the high levels of professionalism and compassion offered by the teams at such incidents.”