Prison officers tour high schools

The scheme involves role playing activities

Prison officers on the Isle of Man are visiting different schools to try to deter children from ending up in jail.

The scheme, which is supported by the UK's "Prison Me - No Way" scheme was piloted at the Isle of Man College.

It will be delivered to year nine groups at St Ninians and Ballakermeen High Schools during the autumn term.

It involves role playing activities for students and aims to dispel the myth that the Isle of Man prison is a so-called "easy jail".

Prison officers are giving up their own time to be involved in the presentations, and Home Affairs Minister Martyn Quayle says he believes it could change young people's lives.

"If youngsters are made aware of potential difficulties it will have quite an impact and may change their lives for the better.

"If it changes one person's life for the better then it will have succeeded."