NI Prison 'Escape Plan' Targets 600 Staff

The door has been opened for 'prison escapes' today with news that the Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS) has published the details of its Voluntary Staff Exit Scheme.

In a scheme similar to the Patten reforms that saw the RUC becoming the PSNI a decade ago, this is part of a programme of change that aims to give over 600 members of staff serving in the Prison Officer and Governor grades - who are age 50 or over - early retirement.

Those staff opting for the scheme will then begin to leave from next spring.

Depending on the uptake, NIPS may launch a second Voluntary Early Severance Scheme early next year for staff under 50.

The scheme will cost the Prison Service £60m over the next two years but will generate savings of £180m over the next 10 years.

Speaking today, the Justice Minister David Ford said: "Successive reports, including the most recent Owers report, have stated that the Northern Ireland Prison Service has too many staff and if we are to reform the Service, then staffing levels have to be addressed.

"The publication of this scheme today underlines my commitment to fundamental transformation of the Northern Ireland Prison Service."

He added that, as the programme of reform gathers pace over the next six months, "We should never forget the commitment and sacrifice shown by Prison Service staff".

New Grades

He said that, to facilitate the implementation of the new business-operating model, NIPS intends to recruit up to 400 new staff to the new Custody Officer grade, which will be introduced in 2012.

Northern Ireland Prison Service Director General Colin McConnell said: "Since the Prison Service confirmed that there would be an exit package for staff wishing to leave, the management team has been approached on a number of occasions about the detail of the package.

"Today's publication of the scheme allows our officer and governor grades to make an informed decision about whether or not they want to be a part of the new and transformed Northern Ireland Prison Service or whether they wish to leave to pursue other interests.

"In this very challenging economic environment, this is by far the best package NIPS can offer.

"Under the Strategic Efficiency and Effectiveness (SEE) Programme, every aspect of the Northern Ireland Prison Service will be transformed over the next four years," he said.

"How we work, and the way in which we work, will change as we move towards becoming a modern, effective and efficient Prison Service with reducing the risk of re-offending at our core.

"The Exit Scheme is the catalyst for this transformation and will pave the way for a new business operating model to be launched next April."

Prison Service management have today met with the Prison Officers Association and the Prison Governors Association to brief them on the details of the scheme and a series of meetings are planned to discuss the detail of the scheme with staff.

(BMcC)