Doug Beattie MC MLA, the Ulster Unionist Party's Justice Spokesperson, has called on the Prison Service Management and the Justice Minister to deliver on previous promises made to Prison Officers regarding pay and conditions.

Doug Beattie MC said:

“Yesterday the Prison Officers Association (POA) area committee decided that they would reject the latest pay offer from the Department of Justice (DoJ). They have repeated their frustration that the Prison Management Board has not fulfilled their promises made in 2014 as part of the ‘Management deployment Agreement’ and reiterated by the then Director General in June 2016.

“I understand that although the Department of Finance (DoF) has approved a pay settlement which they say equates to 2.5%, the POA firmly believe that in reality is the pay deal is just 1% non-consolidated, non- pensionable payments for staff.  It also includes a £460 a year increase in risk payments which is still £700 less than what is paid to the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

“I have long been concerned at poor staff morale, staffing levels and safety issues in our prisons. There is no question that the failure to deliver on previous agreements on pay and conditions has had a very negative impact on morale and I would urge the Minister and management to deliver on the promises that were made.

“It is obviously up to the POA membership to decide if they will accept the current pay award that has been offered when their ballot comes to an end on Friday. Regardless of the outcome, it is perfectly clear to me that there must be better strategic management of the Northern Ireland Prison Service.”