Select Committee on Northern Ireland Affairs Written Evidence


Further supplementary written evidence from the Northern Ireland Prison Service

  The prison population averaged 48.2% Catholic for the 2006 calendar year. It started 2006 at 46.3% Catholic and is currently (March 2007) sitting at 51.3%. These figures are taken from the monthly bulletin published by NIO Statistics & Research Branch.

  The Northern Ireland Census of Population shows that Catholics make up 43.8% of the total population. However given the age structure of prisoners it may be more representative to compare them with the younger age groups (16-24 years = 50.4% Catholic and 25-34 years = 45.3% Catholic).

  Catholics are therefore over-represented in the NI Prison Population when compared with the NI Population as a whole. This can be partially explained by the age profile of the Catholic population in Northern Ireland. This position is not unique as in England & Wales persons from the Black ethnic group are even more over-represented in the prison population (non-white groups represent 9% of the population but 22% of those in prison).

Brian Kelly

Northern Ireland Prison Service

30 April 2007


Annex A

NORTHERN IRELAND PRISON SERVICE

PRISON SERVICE GRADES—STAFF IN POST AT 30 APRIL 2007
    Community Background
GenderP RCNDTotal
Male1,177 (66.2%)116 (6.5%) 185 (10.4%)1,478   (83.1%)
Female243 (13.7%)39 (2.2%) 19   (1.7%)300   (16.9%)

Total
1,420 (79.8%) 155 (8.7%)204 (11.5%) 1,779 (100.0%)


Annex B

PCO COMPETITION 2006—APPLICANTS
    Male Female     Total
Protestant1,21347.0% 58722.7%1,800 69.7%
Roman Catholic33513.0% 2519.7%586 22,7%
Non Determined1335.1% 622.4%195 7.6%
Total1,681 65.1%90034.9% 2,581100.0%


Annex C

PRISON GRADE STAFF AT 31/12/2006

BREAKDOWN BY COMMUNITY BACKGROUND AND GENDER
Community Background    Male Female     Total
Protestant1,12067.1% 22013.2%1,340 80.3%
Roman Catholic1066.4% 372.2%143 8.6%
Non Determined17010.2% 150.9%185 11.1%

Total
1,396 83.7%272 16.3%1,668100.0%


RECRUITMENT COMPETITION—NIGHT CUSTODY OFFICERS 2006

BREAKDOWN BY COMMUNITY BACKGROUND AND GENDER

APPLICANTS—1,726
Community BackgroundMale FemaleTotal
Protestant896 (51.9%) 336 (19.5%)1,232 (71.4%)
Roman Catholic229 (13.3%) 96   (5.6%)325 (18.8%)
Non Determined134   (7.8%) 35   (2.0%)169   (9.8%)

Total
1,259 (73.0%) 467 (27.0%)1,726 (100.0%)
RACE—Most of the applicants were white, apart from 1 Black Caribbean, 1 Chinese, 2 Indian, 3 from Mixed Ethnic groups and 8 others. (There are also 32 applicants for which no race has been declared).



BREAKDOWN OF COMMUNITY BACKGROUND FIGURES FOR NCOs ON WAITING LIST—2005 COMPETITION
    Male Female     Total
Protestant10651.0% 5827.9%164 78.9%
Roman Catholic199.1% 104.8%29 13.9%
Non Determined62.9% 94.3%15 7.2%

Total
131 63.0%77 37.0%208100.0%


Annex D

RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION CODE OF PRACTICE

  The Northern Ireland Prison Service has systems in place to ensure that selection for appointment is made in accordance with the Civil Service Commissioners for Northern Ireland Recruitment Code.

  All applicants are considered systematically against the organisation's recruitment practices and in line with published suitability criteria. The recruitment systems are evaluated on a regular basis to ensure they meet with the Commissioners' guidelines and are in line with best practice as recommended by the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development and the Equality Commission.

  No appointments were made under Regulation 3 of the Commissioners' General Regulations.

  A statistical summary of the applicants' and appointees' religious affiliation and gender for the following recruitment campaigns ie Head of Communications & Corporate Planning, Teachers, Accountants, Nursing Officers, Cleaners and Night Custody Officers which were advertised by the Prison Service during the period 1 April 2005 and 31 March 2006 in strict accordance with the Commissioners for Northern Ireland Recruitment Code, is as follows:
Applicants Appointees
Religious Affiliation Religious Affiliation
Protestant1,336Protestant 52
Roman Catholic380Roman Catholic 10
Non determined175Non determined 5

Total
1,891 Total67
Gender Gender
Male1,317Male 36
Female574Female 31

Total
1,891 Total67


  A statistical summary of the applicants' and appointees religious affiliation and gender for recruitment campaigns for: Accountants, Female Searchers, Kitchen/ Porter Drivers and Night Custody Officers advertised by the Prison Service prior to 1 April 2005 but from which appointments were made between 1 April 2005 and 31 March 2006.
Applicants Appointees
Religious Affiliation Religious Affiliation
Protestant850Protestant 20
Roman Catholic190Roman Catholic 6
Non Determined90Non Determined 0

Total
1,130 Total26
Gender Gender
Male756Male 17
Female374Female 9

Total
1,130 Total26





 
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Prepared 13 December 2007