Magilligan Prison

Public/Equality Impact Consultations

Equality Screening Consultation - Draft Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS) Disability - Reasonable Adjustments Policy

Consultation period: 12 October 2005- 9 December 2005
From October 2004 the DDA 1995 was extended to include prison service staff. As a result the NIPS are required to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that staff with a disability are not placed at a disadvantage in comparison with staff who are not disabled. In keeping with the Public Sector Continuous Improvement programme the NIPS is committed to an ongoing review of all new policies, including those covering Human Resource functions.

The purpose of the Disability - Reasonable Adjustments Policy is to provide practical guidance on how managers can meet their responsibilities and enable staff with disabilities to participate fully in the NIPS.
The consultation letter
Draft Reasonable Adjustments Policy

Equality Screening Consultation on a Northern Ireland Prison Service Permanent Transfers - Policy and Procedures

Consultation period: 03 March - 28 April 2005
The NIPS has equality screened the attached policy and procedures relating to permanent transfers in accordance with the Northern Ireland Office's Equality Scheme. The screening exercise did not identify any adverse differential on any of the Section 75 categories, or any further actions required to promote good relations between persons of different beliefs, political opinions or racial groups.
The consultation Letter
The consultation document

Equality Screening Consultation on a Northern Ireland Prison Service Statement of Ethics

Consultation period: 28 September - 17 December 2004
Under the terms of the 1998 Belfast Agreement, an independent review of criminal justice was conducted. One of the recommendations arising from that review was: "As part of our strategy for developing transparency and accountability mechanisms, we recommend the publication of statements of ethics for each of the criminal justice agencies covering all those employed or holding office in the criminal justice system." Whilst staff within the Prison Service are subject to the Northern Ireland and Home Civil Services Codes of Ethics, the aforementioned review highlighted the need for a Northern Ireland Prison Service discrete Statement of Ethics to reflect the role the service fulfils within the wider criminal justice system.
The consultation document

Equality Screening Consultation on a Northern Ireland Prison Service Grievance Procedure

Consultation period: 28 September - 17 December 2004
In keeping with the Public Sector Continuous Improvement programme the Northern Ireland Prison Service is committed to an ongoing review of all policies, including those covering Human Resource functions. A review of the existing grievance procedure flagged up a need to enhance local management's role in the decision making process in order to ensure grievances are resolved quickly and fairly and at the lowest possible level.
The consultation document

Prisoner Complaints System and Prisoner Ombudsman Consultation

Consultation period: 21 April 2004 - 19 May 2004
The outcome of the public consultation on proposals for a new prisoner complaints process and the appointment of a Prisoner Ombudsman was made on 21 September 2004.
Press release announcing outcome of the consultation
List of those who responded
Responses to the consultation
Revised proposals as a result of the consultation
The consultation document
Press release

Starting Points Consultation

Consultation period: 8 January 2004 -31 March 2004
The consultation paper contained proposals to make statutory provisions in Northern Ireland to introduce starting points for minimum life sentence terms for persons convicted of murder. The consultation concluded on 31 March 2004 and work in this area is being taken forward by Criminal Justice Policy Directorate of the Northern Ireland Office.
The responses to the consultation are currently being considered.
The consultation document
Press release

Compact for Separated Prisoners Pre-Release Home and Resettlement Leave arrangements for Sentenced Prisoners

Consultation period: 11 December 2003 - 22 January 2004)
Since 8 September 2003, when the Government accepted the Steele Review recommendation that republican and loyalist prisoners with paramilitary affiliations should be accommodated separately from each other, and from the rest of the prison population, the Northern Ireland Prison Service has been actively engaged in preparing for the separation of loyalist and republican prisoners. One aspect of this work has been the development of a prisoner compact, a contract with the prisoner, which makes clear the routine and facilities available to separated prisoners and what will be required of them in return.

The Prison Service also proposed new pre-release and resettlement leave arrangements which will apply to all sentenced prisoners. While the primary concern for considering any form of temporary release must be the safety of the public, the proposed arrangements recognise the benefits to all prisoners of a family reintegration programme.
Compact for Separated Prisoner
Pre-release Home and Resettlement leave Arrangements for all Sentenced Prisoners - Revised April 2005
Press release: No Return to Maze Regime Says Minister
Written Ministerial Statement: Northern Ireland Prison Service Compact for Separated Prisoners
Responses to the consultation
List of those responding to the consultation
The consultation document
Press release

Location of immigration detainees

(Consultation period: 11 December 2003 - 22 January 2004)
The Northern Ireland Prison Service decided that in the event of the transfer of female prisoners to Hydebank Wood it would no longer, for operational reasons, be possible to accommodate male immigration detainees in Mourne House within Maghaberry Prison. The consultation sought views on a number of alternatives for holding the male detainees. Following the consultation exercise a further option was identified and male immigration detainees were transferred to Maghaberry's facility at Belfast Prison on 21 June 2004. Female immigration detainees were transferred along with the female prison population to Hydebank Wood on the same date.
The consultation document
List of respondents
Responses to the consultation

Transfer of Women in Custody - An Equality Impact Assessment

(Consultation period: 24 November - 19 January 2004)
The consultation on the transfer of female prisoners from Maghaberry to Hydebank Wood followed a feasibility study on the transfer of female prisoners to Hydebank. That study concluded that the transfer of female prisoners will offer an opportunity to not only provide a more cost effective and efficient delivery of service, but to provide a more innovative regime for women in custody. Female prisoners were transferred to Hydebank Wood from Mourne House on 21 June 2004.
The consultation document
Press release
List of respondents
Responses to the consultation
Results of Consultation Process

Equality Issues in Respect of a Number of Amendments to the Prison and YoungOffenders Rules (NI) 1995

(Consultation period: 20 October 2003 - 11 November 2004)
The consultation in respect of a number of amendments which the Secretary of State is minded to make to the Prison and Young Offenders Centre Rules (NI) 1995 arose from the new separated regime which will operate in part of Maghaberry Prison as a result of the review of safety recently completed by the team led by John Steele.
Outcome of the consultation
The consultation document

Prosposed Draft Prison (Amendment)(Northern Ireland) Order 2004

(Consultation period: 31 October 2003 - 26 January 2004)
The draft order proposes a number of amendments to the Order including mandatory drug & alcohol testing of prisoners; detention in custody of a constable where admission to prison is not practicable and membership of Boards of Visitors.
Outcome of the consultation
The consultation document

Also available:
Final Draft Equality Scheme
List of Bodies covered by Section 75 Statutory Equality Duties