Prison Service staff brave and exemplar during pandemic – Director General
Date published:
The Northern Ireland Prison Service will be as determined in its approach to recovery as it has been in its efforts to successfully protect its staff and prisoners during the Covid-19 pandemic, Director General Ronnie Armour has said.
He was responding to the publication of a new inspection report on Magilligan Prison published today (28 February 2022) by Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland (CJI) and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons in England and Wales (HMIP).
Ronnie Armour said: “The recognition by the Chief Inspector that the Prisons took early and brave decisions in response to the pandemic is a vindication of how our staff at Magilligan and the other prisons faced up to the challenges. As we now move to recovery we will be equally resolute in our efforts, at all times maintaining a focus to keep safe the people working in our prisons and those in our care.
“Keeping Covid out of prisons has been a priority since March 2020, and Criminal Justice Inspectors have justly acknowledged the work and support our Prison Service staff and indeed others, most notably our healthcare colleagues, have done during this time.”
Ronnie Armour also welcomed comments on the work in Magilligan’s Care and Supervision Units saying, “While these Units accommodate a very small number of complex and challenging people, the findings by the Inspection team that real progress has been made since their earlier review of the units is very welcome.
Ronnie Armour continued: “The last two years have been challenging for everyone associated with prisons, including Magilligan. This report demonstrates the professionalism of our staff in keeping people safe during that time. With the same professionalism and determination I have no doubt we will rebuild our services to have rehabilitation at the core of our work.”
Magilligan Prison Governor Gary Milling said: “Magilligan Prison has a population of around 450 prisoners, many elderly and vulnerable, and this presented its own challenges during the pandemic. However, our staff, alongside our health colleagues, worked tirelessly to ensure that those people in our care were protected.
“We are now focusing on recovery, and the full reintroduction of in-person learning and skills, rehabilitative programmes and pre-release testing will be an opportunity for our staff, education and healthcare partners to rebuild the important relationships which will lead to better outcomes for everyone.”
Notes to editors:
- Magilligan Prison is a medium to low security prison which holds male prisoners with six years or less to serve and who meet the relevant security classification.
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