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| Report hits out at prison regime | Report hits out at prison regime |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Deficiencies remain in the Northern Ireland prison regime, an inspection of the treatment of vulnerable prisoners has found. | Deficiencies remain in the Northern Ireland prison regime, an inspection of the treatment of vulnerable prisoners has found. |
| Inspectors found the daily regime for vulnerable prisoners had changed little between an inspection in January and a follow up inspection in the summer. | |
| The latest inspection was ordered after the death of prisoner Colin Bell in Maghaberry jail in August 2008. | |
| It found "inconsistent assessment and monitoring of prisoners at risk". | It found "inconsistent assessment and monitoring of prisoners at risk". |
| The inspection report, to be published later, was compiled at the request of NI Criminal Justice Minister Paul Goggins. | The inspection report, to be published later, was compiled at the request of NI Criminal Justice Minister Paul Goggins. |
| Suicide | |
| It tracked the progress made by the Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS) in implementing recommendations made in January 2009 by the Prisoner Ombudsman for Northern Ireland in her report into the death in custody of Colin Bell. | It tracked the progress made by the Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS) in implementing recommendations made in January 2009 by the Prisoner Ombudsman for Northern Ireland in her report into the death in custody of Colin Bell. |
| Dr Michael Maguire, NI Criminal Justice chief inspector, said the NIPS had taken action to reduce the risk of suicide in prison cells. | Dr Michael Maguire, NI Criminal Justice chief inspector, said the NIPS had taken action to reduce the risk of suicide in prison cells. |
| "Staff members have been made aware of the issues arising from the death of Colin Bell, safer custody teams have been introduced and staff training has been improved. | "Staff members have been made aware of the issues arising from the death of Colin Bell, safer custody teams have been introduced and staff training has been improved. |
| "Yet, despite this positive activity, this report shows there is a continuing gap between the NIPS's stated intention and the delivery on-the-ground of meaningful outcomes for prisoners, especially at Maghaberry Prison, where the majority of prisoners at risk are located," he said. | "Yet, despite this positive activity, this report shows there is a continuing gap between the NIPS's stated intention and the delivery on-the-ground of meaningful outcomes for prisoners, especially at Maghaberry Prison, where the majority of prisoners at risk are located," he said. |
| Colin Bell was found dead in 2008 | Colin Bell was found dead in 2008 |
| He said the day-to-day regime for prisoners at risk was also found to have changed little since an inspection of Maghaberry Prison in January 2009. | |
| "The inspection, which was carried out in July and August 2009, found prisoners were continuing to spend too long in their cells, had limited access to out-of-cell activities and inadequate multi-disciplinary care," Dr Maguire said. | "The inspection, which was carried out in July and August 2009, found prisoners were continuing to spend too long in their cells, had limited access to out-of-cell activities and inadequate multi-disciplinary care," Dr Maguire said. |
| Risk | Risk |
| "Access to appropriate care is important as it reduces the risk of a prisoner harming themselves and others while in prison. | "Access to appropriate care is important as it reduces the risk of a prisoner harming themselves and others while in prison. |
| "It also lessens the risk of a vulnerable prisoner harming other people following their release." | "It also lessens the risk of a vulnerable prisoner harming other people following their release." |
| He said inspectors were concerned that, despite the priority given to prisoners at risk, a special facility at Maghaberry was continuing to have to fight to ensure its resources were not re-allocated elsewhere. | He said inspectors were concerned that, despite the priority given to prisoners at risk, a special facility at Maghaberry was continuing to have to fight to ensure its resources were not re-allocated elsewhere. |
| "This is in spite of the fact the prison as a whole, has a high staff-to-prisoner ratio when compared with other prisons," he said. | "This is in spite of the fact the prison as a whole, has a high staff-to-prisoner ratio when compared with other prisons," he said. |
| He said the pace of change within the NIPS had not been as swift as inspectors would have wished to see. | He said the pace of change within the NIPS had not been as swift as inspectors would have wished to see. |
| "The progress made to date should be viewed as the starting point if further deaths in custody are to be prevented and the situation for vulnerable prisoners improved. | "The progress made to date should be viewed as the starting point if further deaths in custody are to be prevented and the situation for vulnerable prisoners improved. |
| "This will be the ongoing challenge for the NIPS, the new governor of Maghaberry Prison, when appointed, and their management team," Dr Maguire said. | "This will be the ongoing challenge for the NIPS, the new governor of Maghaberry Prison, when appointed, and their management team," Dr Maguire said. |
| Maghaberry is currently being run by an acting governor after the last governor Steve Rodford left his job earlier this month. | |
| Mr Rodford, who was apparently under threat from dissident republicans, had been in the post for just five months. |