The Ulster Unionist Party’s Justice Spokesperson, Doug Beattie MC MLA, has re-iterated his genuine concern that the Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS) and prison reform could well be in freefall, if action is not taken soon to address staff concerns.

Doug Beattie MC said:

“Last week saw the death of another prisoner in custody and a prison ombudsman report on the death in custody of another. It is easy to point an accusing finger at the prison regime and in many ways those accusation do have a degree of grounding. In fact the Prison Officers Association (POA) has been continually asking for measures which previously existed, to be brought back as policy to help deal with the underlying issues affecting prisons.

“In a meeting with the First Minister Arlene Foster MLA on 10 October, the POA outlined a number of prison regime issues they were experiencing. They also went on to give the First Minister a number of solutions which would ensure prison reform could be achieved while the safety of prisoners and staff could be maintained. These solutions included:

“The reintroduction of recorded safe staffing levels in each prison department, with failure to achieve these levels in any location being recorded on the ‘Dynamic Risk Assessment’ which should be held by the prison Health and Safety Officer as an accountable document.

“The reintroduction of the ‘Safety Journal’ in each prison area, which should be signed by both the area unit manager and the prison governor; and finally a ‘Stress Risk Assessment’ for all staff and the reissue of the ‘Mental Wellbeing at Work’ policy.

“I am unaware as to what action the First Minister took following this meeting with the POA. I can only assume she raised their concerns with the Justice Minister. So what is the Justice Minster doing about the POA concerns and what collective action can we expect from the Executive?

“As the POA ballot their members on industrial action it is clear there is no strategic management at Executive level; Ministers can continue to go on solo runs with no hand railing of policy or practice. Any effective government must have a lead - the person or persons who take responsibility for overall government and don’t allow their Ministers to drift out of lane. It is only this type of strategic management that can deliver an effective and achievable Programme for Government (PfG).

“In respect to the NIPS it is time our First Ministers took control, showed leadership and gave some strategic direction to ensure the prison service is fit for purpose now and in the future, in line with the PfG.

“The threat of industrial action by prison officers is as much a failing in leadership of our Executive as it is our Justice Minister or indeed our Prison Management Board.  As the Executive invests in structures and much needed infrastructure, it is also important to invest in people. They have failed at every level to do so and we are now seeing the fruits of that neglect.”