Police will no longer be stationed on the TT circuit

Police officers will no longer stand at points around the TT course when practice or racing is in progress.

Instead, there is to be a rapid response team which would only deal with a fatal incident.

Roger Hurst denied the decision would have major implications and said there was hardly any change.

He said: "They will be there on the course in different places, public houses and where there are vast crowds of people, but they are going to be in the background.

"The only difference is they will not be involved in any racing incident.

'Fully committed'

"God forbid, if there's a fatality, then they are called to act on behalf of the coroner.

"The police are fully committed to the organisers, to the race and to the marshals."

Isle of Man's Chief Constable confirmed earlier this month that officers had been removed from the TT track during races.

Mike Culverhouse said he was concerned about his officers' safety following changes to the Health and Safety at Work Act.

The changes have already taken effect in this year's Manx Karting Festival and the Southern 100 races.

Neil Hanson, clerk of the course for TT and Manx Grand Prix, said he regretted the changes, but understood the reason.