Prison Officers To Receive Extra Money

It has been revealed that prison staff are to receive special annual 'danger money' payments due to the threat posed from dissident republicans.

More than 1,000 staff will receive more than £1,300 a year, in addition to their normal salary, an independent pay review body has said. The extra money is to be paid to prison staff for as long as the security threat remains.

The announcement comes after a prison officer was murdered by dissident republicans in November 2012. David Black was shot dead as he drove along the M1 on his way to work at Maghaberry Prison. He was the first prison service member to be murdered in almost 20 years.

Before Mr Black was killed, prison staff had been calling for extra money to reflect the threat they face in their job. Justice Minister David Ford had referred the issue to the Prison Service Pay Review Body. It has now decided that staff who have joined the Prison Service since 2002, should receive special payments of £1,320 each year. This also includes more than 350 members of staff who have been employed in the last 18 months.

Responding to the announcement, Paul Givan, DUP Chairman of Stormont's Justice Committee, said: "The Pay Review Body has recommended operational Prison Grade staff, employed from 2002, should receive an allowance in recognition of the security threat they face.

"Prison staff live under a general threat of violence. Some have received specific threats requiring them to take precautionary measures which have a financial and social impact upon them and their families.

"Many felt the Prison Service and Department of Justice were failing to recognise the impact of these threats upon them."

(JP)