The Director of the Northern Ireland Prison Service, Robin Masefield, today welcomed the publication of the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) Reports for Maghaberry and Magilligan Prisons and Hydebank Young Offenders Centre and Prison.

Mr Masefield recorded his thanks for all the hard work undertaken by Board members over the past year. They are the first reports to be published since the IMBs replaced the Board of Visitors and Visiting Committees in October 2005.

“We are very grateful for the dedication and commitment of those individuals who volunteer to give up their time to visit prisons on a regular basis to monitor the quality of life of inmates,” said Mr Masefield.

“The Northern Ireland Prison Service is committed to providing a progressive, forward-looking regime for all of our inmates and we are already giving active consideration to many of the recommendations included in these detailed and valuable reports.

“The Boards have focused on a number of key areas for development of the service, including improvements in healthcare provision, resettlement and the Prison Estate.

“On the issue of healthcare they have raised concerns about the provision of services for inmates with mental health problems. We are vigorously addressing this issue with the transfer of lead responsibility for prisoner healthcare to the HPSS in April, there is scope for tackling it better on a partnership basis.

“I am pleased that the Boards have recognised the valuable work being undertaken in terms of resettlement and rehabilitation of prisoners across the prison estate. Preparing prisoners for re-integration into the community is one of our top priorities and it is pleasing to note that 93% of prisoners serving sentences of six months or more are working to a resettlement plan.

“The Boards have raised concerns about the condition of the Prison estate. We understand those concerns and have highlighted the need for major changes in our strategic programme for the development of the Service. However, this is dependent on sufficient capital and maintenance finance being made available.

Mr Masefield also commented on issues raised within the individual establishments.

“In Maghaberry, the Board has highlighted the needs of prisoners with mental health problems and is calling for the appointment of qualified staff as soon as possible. We recognise the need: we are currently recruiting forensic psychologists, three of whom will be based at Maghaberry. We are also working up further proposals for meeting the needs of prisoners with personality disorders in liaison with HPSS Trusts.

“The transfer of lead responsibility for prison healthcare to HPSS on 1 April will provide a positive basis to take these plans further forward.

“The condition of the physical estate at Magilligan Prison was a major issue for the Board, which has recommended that a new facility should be built on the Magilligan site. We have accepted that there is a need for a replacement prison and much work is in hand to take forward the Service’s estate strategy. Ministers hope to be in a position to indicate the way forward shortly.

“At Hydebank Wood, the Board have sought a dedicated women’s facility. The Prison Service has accepted that Ash House is not an appropriate long term location within Hydebank Wood, although the House is currently being refurbished, including a new unit for longer stay enhanced prisoners.

“All the Boards refer to the case for developing resettlement further. The Prison Service has a comprehensive multi-agency resettlement strategy and has recently carried out a review of education and vocational training provision intended to provide a platform for the further development of services in this important area.”

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