Announcing the publication of the Northern Ireland Prison Service Annual Report & Accounts for 2004/05 this morning, Prisons Minister Shaun Woodward said that achievements in meeting key targets in security and safety pointed to safer regimes in Northern Ireland prisons for both staff and prisoners.

“The Annual Report details that the Prison Service met 9 of its 11 Key Performance Targets in full despite a challenging year. Meeting targets in areas such as security and safety demonstrates that the Prison Service is working hard to provide a safe and secure environment for staff to work in and prisoners to live in.

“I am pleased to see continued progress to develop resettlement planning which means engaging with prisoners so that they leave prison less likely to re-offend and ultimately lead to fewer victims of crime in future.”

Commenting on the report Robin Masefield, Director General of the Northern Ireland Prison Service said:

“We have made progress in many areas this year. In addition to meeting 9 of our 11 key targets, of a comprehensive programme of 25 development objectives set for the Service; 15 were achieved, 5 were partially achieved and substantial progress was made to meeting the remaining 8.

“Once again we have experienced a difficult operating environment but that in no way detracts from some very good work that has been done with prisoners in education, family centred visits, resettlement and vocational training. In June we launched our multi-agency resettlement strategy and we have continued to work with our partners to develop a joined up approach to providing services to offenders which addresses their offending behaviour and supports them on release so that they are less likely to re-engage in crime.

“In June also female inmates were transferred from Mourne House, Maghaberry to Hydebank Wood. We continue to work hard to develop regimes and policies for women which meets their assessed needs. In May with the publication of the Criminal Justice for Northern Ireland Inspection (CJINI) report on women in custody we now have a robust and detailed action plan taking forward their recommendations.

“I welcome that the work of the Service is becoming more open and transparent and with the two other CJINI inspections this year (at Magilligan and Hydebank Wood Young Offenders’ Centre) we have committed to publishing our action plans and reporting regularly on the progress we are making.

“The appointment too of the Prisoner Ombudsman in February 2005 provides further reassurance to the public that prisoners are being treated decently and equitably.

“I was delighted to return to the Prison Service in December 2004 as Director General after an absence of nearly 5 years. Much has changed in that time and we face fresh challenges in the year ahead not least taking proposals to develop a BLUEPRINT for the future of the Prison Service over the next 10-15 years which will deliver both better services for prisoners and better value for the community.

“I am determined to do that work in partnership with staff and their trade union representatives. It is only through working co-operatively together will we be able to take this Service forward.”

One of the highlights of the year, reflected in the Report, was the award of the Honorary Freedom of the Borough of Castlereagh to the Northern Ireland Prison Service in May 2004. The Award was made in recognition of the valuable services provided to the Borough by Hydebank Wood and to Northern Ireland in general.


Notes to editors:

1. The Northern Ireland Prison Service Annual Report & Accounts 2004/05 was announced by way of a written statement by Prisons Minister, Shaun Woodward. Copies have been placed in the libraries of each House.
2. The written statement attached gives details on the outturn against each of the key performance targets.
3. BLUEPRINT is the programme of work being taken forward to implement the recommendations arising from an independent review of the Service’s Efficiency Programme. Details of the Review, led by Hamish Hamill a retired head of the Scottish Justice Department, were published in early June.

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