I have been thinking recently about the difficulty in obtaining adequate marshals for the Manx, in particular the early part of practice week, and had an idea which I wonder if it has ever been considered by the TT Marshals Association. I fully expect some clever comments in return but it is a genuine suggestion on my part.

If even an extra half a dozen marshals would make a marked difference as to whether or not practising goes ahead, would it not be possible to recruit prisoners to assist? Before this suggestion is dismissed out of hand as totally ridiculous, I would ask you all to bear in mind that certain prisoners are released from the prison on a regular basis into the community to carry out various work assignments. Obviously there would require to be thorough vetting by the prison authorities as to just who could be deemed to be trustworthy to be considered for such duties, many inmates would be totally unsuitable and would present too much of a risk to the prison authorities, if not the general public. But I am sure that out of a prison population stated only yesterday as around 90 inmates, that a few would be suitable for marshalling duties. Indeed they would probably be only too eager to escape (pardon the pun!) the mundane daily routine for a few hours. I don't see any difference whatsoever to prisoners working within the community and marshalling for the MGP. They could be collected from the prison by taxi(s) or by a people carrier type vehicle(s) by any other marshals prepared to take on the responsibility, or any other arrangement sanctioned by the Prison Governor, taken to their place of "duty" for that session, then returned to the prison after practice was over. As regards the suitability or experience of such persons to marshal, maybe a volunteer from the TT Marshals Association could visit the prison to show the necessary recruitment DVD or similar, and anyone deemed to be suitable could be signed up there and then.
By agreeing to marshal under these conditions, such action would surely then be favourable in respect of the prisoners' own individual prison effort. And bearing in mind that such people will, sooner or later, be fully integrated back within our community, they may become regular marshals in the future.
I don't envisage anyone serving a sentence for violent, sexual or drug-related crimes being remotely considered for such a scheme, but the prison authorities would obviously have the final word in who could be permitted to marshal.
Maybe this idea has been considered before and it is merely unworkable owing to security issues? Maybe I'm just talking a load of tat and don't really understand these things? But I would be very interested to (a) hear peoples comments and opinions on the suggestion and (b) read an "official" statement from someone in authority as to whether or not the idea has ever been considered before.