The Northern Ireland Prison Population 2022/23

The Department of Justice (DoJ) today published ‘The Northern Ireland Prison Population 2022/23’ report. It is a National Statistics Publication.

The report presents key data relating to the average daily prison population, receptions and discharges for Northern Ireland during 2022/23. 

The key findings were as follows:

Average Daily Prison Population

• The overall average daily prison population increased by 12.8% during 2022/23 to 1,685. The male population increased from 1,428 to 1,607 while the female population increased from 66 to 78.
   
• The remand population increased by 11.2% to 607 during 2022/23 from 546 the previous year and is at the highest level it has been over the last eight years.
   
• During 2022/23, the average daily immediate custody population increased by 13.5% to 1,068. This is the highest the immediate custody population has been since 2016/17.
   
• Prisoners aged between 30 and 39 years made up the largest proportion (36.2%) of the average daily immediate custody prison population and the remand population (34.9%).
   
• In terms of custodial sentence length, 28.0% of the average daily population during 2022/23 had custodial sentences of less than or equal to one year, an increase from 27.3% during 2021/22.
   
• Violence Against the Person offences continued to account for the largest proportion (34.6%) of all principal offence categories for the daily immediate custody prison population and for the remand population (35.1%).
   
• During 2022/23, those identifying as Catholic represented the largest proportion of the average daily prison population at 51.2% (863), while Protestant denominations and Other Christians accounted for 33.8% (569).

Receptions and Discharges

• At 4,096, the number of receptions during 2022/23 was higher than 3,477 the previous year, an increase of 17.8%. This is the highest the number of receptions has been over the past eight year reporting period.
   
• Remand receptions increased by 16.5% over the last year, up from 2,722 in 2021/22 to 3,171 during 2022/23.
   
• Receptions into immediate custody increased by 21.8% during 2022/23, to 816 compared to 670 the previous year. Compared with 2020/21, which coincided with the first full financial year of the COVID-19 pandemic, receptions into immediate custody increased by 79.3%, from 455 in 2020/21 to 816 in 2022/23.
   
• The number of receptions for fine default and non-criminal increased by 28.2% from 85 during 2021/22 to 109 during 2022/23. This also follows on from an increase between 2020/21 and 2021/22 of 41.7%.
   
• 30 to 39 year olds accounted for the largest number of immediate custody receptions (288; 35.3%) (Figure 11 and Table 17c). They also accounted for the largest number of remand receptions (1,136; 35.8%).
   
• The majority of immediate custody receptions had a custodial sentence length of less than one year (77.0%) a small increase from 76.6% during 2021/22.
   
• Public Order and Violence Against the Person offences accounted for the largest proportion of immediate custody receptions, at 22.7% (185) and 19.6% (160) respectively, while, Violence Against the Person offences accounted for 33.7% of remand receptions (1,070).
   
• The number of discharges increased by 16.4%, from 3,283 during 2021/22 to 3,823 during 2022/23.

Notes to editors: 

1.The report presents key data relating to the average daily prison population, receptions and discharges for Northern Ireland during 2022/23.   It is a National Statistics Publication.

2.National Statistics are produced in accordance with the Code of Practice for National Statistics. They undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure that they meet customer needs and are produced free from any political interference.  They are also subject to restrictions in terms of pre-release access.

3.The report will be available in PDF format from either the DOJ web-site at The Northern Ireland Prison Population 2022/23 | Department of Justice (justice-ni.gov.uk)

or Analytical Services Group, Block B, Castle Buildings, Stormont Estate, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 3SG

Email: statistics.research@justice-ni.gov.uk.

4. Press queries about this publication should be directed to the DOJ Press Office press.office@justice-ni.gov.uk .

5. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.

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