NIPS Annual Report and Accounts 2012-13 - Department of Justice

2012-2013
Operating Review
STRUCTURE AND LOCATION
The Northern Ireland Prison Service currently has
a central administrative Headquarters, located
on the Stormont Estate; three main operational
establishments; and a staff training facility, the
Prison Service College, at Millisle, Co Down. It is
planned that the Service’s future training function
will form part of the combined Police, Prison Service
and Fire & Rescue College at Desertcreat when it is
completed in 2015.
Our three operational establishments are:
Prison Service Outline Estate Strategy
The Prison Service draft Outline Estate Strategy,
which was published for consultation in 2012,
sets out the proposals for the prison estate for the
next ten years. The strategy aims to develop the
prison estate to create an appropriate physical
environment to support rehabilitation work with
offenders. This includes addressing deteriorating
facilities and infrastructure and enhancing
rehabilitative opportunities by providing large
scale, sustainable links to the community and to
employment placements, which have potential for
further development.
• Maghaberry Prison – a high security prison,
housing adult male long-term sentenced
and remand prisoners in both integrated and
separated conditions. Maghaberry also has
responsibility for the Prisoner Assessment Unit
(PAU) in Belfast which is a facility for selected
and suitably risk-assessed prisoners who are
nearing the end of their sentence. The PAU was
temporarily suspended in 2011 and the outline
Estate Strategy includes proposals for how it
might be reconfigured as a working out unit.
• Magilligan Prison – a medium security prison,
housing shorter term sentenced adult male
prisoners. This establishment also has low
security accommodation for selected prisoners
nearing the end of their sentence.
The responses to the consultation have now been
evaluated and the Estate Strategy is currently being
finalised. The Minister of Justice has confirmed his
commitment to:
• the reconfiguration of Hydebank Wood as a
secure college;
• the provision of a separate, dedicated facility for
women offenders which provides both custodial
and community services;
• the reconfiguration of Maghaberry prison,
including the development of a new
accommodation block and high security facility;
• the development of a working out unit on the
site of the former prisoner assessment unit; and
• the phased redevelopment of Magilligan Prison
on the existing prison site.
• Hydebank Wood – a medium to low security
establishment accommodating male remand and
sentenced young offenders between the ages of
18 and 21 and all female prisoners. All juvenile
offenders are now located at Woodlands, Juvenile
Justice Centre.
Development of the prison estate is an opportunity
to create an environment which will support
rehabilitation, reduce risk, and enhance public safety.
It will also provide accommodation that is fit for
purpose; delivers increased flexibility; and provides
value for money.
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