Prisons Under Pressure As Population Hits Record High

As the prison population of Northern Ireland hits record levels pressure will continue to increase on the Prison Service, Ronnie Armour, Northern Ireland Prison Service Director General has warned.

The growing pressure on the prison service is highlighted by the publication of the findings of an unannounced inspection of Maghaberry Prison in September/October last year by the Criminal Justice Inspectorate and HM Inspector of Prisons.

In acknowledging the report conclusions Ronnie Armour said: "While the findings of Inspectors are of course disappointing, they are not surprising. For some time we have been highlighting the impact of the pandemic on the prison system and our struggle to recover in the context of a rapidly rising prison population.

"When Inspectors last visited Maghaberry in 2018, the population was 830, when they returned in October 2022 that had risen to 1,050 and this week the Maghaberry population stands at 1,230 men, of whom over half are being held on remand and therefore do not have to engage in rehabilitative work."

Continuing he said: "While it is important that we don’t seek to make excuses for the decline in service delivery at the Prison since the pandemic, no-one should underestimate the pressures prison staff are currently facing. It is important to recognise the exceptional work staff undertake with some of the most complex, challenging and dangerous members of our community.

"Like our hospitals, ambulance service, police and other front-line services, the current demands placed on prison officers is unprecedented. We are not complacent about the issues Inspectors have raised, indeed we are determined to address them, however it is important to recognise that due to the context in which we are operating in, this is likely to be the case for some time to come.

Turning to the specifics of the Report, Ronnie Armour said: "The Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice has rightly identified the availability of drugs as a priority concern and since the inspection some eight months ago we have introduced x-ray body scanners at Maghaberry. This new equipment has surpassed our expectations and early indications signal a huge drop in illegal drugs coming into the Prison. However that will now mean prescription drugs will become more sought after and we will continue to support our colleagues in the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust to ensure that medication is not abused."

On the issue of staff/prisoner relations the Director General said: "I am pleased the Inspectors recognised that the vast majority of our staff are friendly and approachable and that they support and challenge people in our care to change in a professional and appropriate way. However, I am concerned that some comments were made to inspectors about the treatment of Catholic prisoners. "The Prison Service takes these allegations very seriously and I have written to the Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice indicating that such comments must be fully investigated and asking her to encourage those who made the allegations to make a formal complaint that can be properly investigated by the Prisoner Ombudsman in the first instance. No stone should or will be left unturned in dealing with such allegations of unacceptable behaviour.

"In terms of the complex needs of the prison population, the report highlights a key concern that there is no specialist personality disorder provision in Maghaberry, despite this being raised as a significant concern by the RQIA in October 2021. This means that some acutely unwell people continue to be cared for by the Prison Service rather than receiving appropriate inpatient treatment. Dealing with this issue should be a top priority for us all."

In conclusion Ronnie Armour welcomed the fact that, despite the population pressures faced at Maghaberry, the Report indicates that "most prisoners felt safe, the number of recorded violent incidents had reduced since the last inspection and was lower than in similar prisons, and most use of force was low level and its governance was good."