Prisoner Ombudsman term extended

Justice Minister Naomi Long has announced an eighteen-month extension to the term of the current Prisoner Ombudsman, Dr Lesley Carroll.

The Minister said: “After taking account of a range of factors, including the work required to bring the role of Prisoner Ombudsman on to a statutory footing, I decided to offer an extension to the term as Prisoner Ombudsman. I am grateful to Dr Carroll for agreeing to commit to a further eighteen months in this important role.“

The term will be extended from 31 August 2022 to 29th February 2024.

The Prisoner Ombudsman post is four days per week and attracts a fixed remuneration of £62,713 per annum (pro-rata.)

Notes to editors: 

1.  The Prisoner Ombudsman is an Independent Statutory Office holder appointed by the Minister of Justice.  The Prisoner Ombudsman’s powers regarding investigation of complaints by prisoners or visitors to prison establishments are currently set out in Rule 79 of the Prison & Young Offender Centre (NI) Rules 2009. 

2.  The Prisoner Ombudsman has a standing commission from the Director General of the Northern Ireland Prison Service to investigate deaths in custody.

3.  More information can be found on the Prisoner Ombudsman’s website: Prisoner Ombudsman for Northern Ireland (niprisonerombudsman.gov.uk)

4.  The current term of three years commenced on 1 March 2019.

5.  For media enquiries contact the Department of Justice Press Office at press.office@justice-ni.gov.uk

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