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
| |
| Gender | P |
RC | ND | Total
|
| Male | 1,177 (66.2%) | 116 (6.5%)
| 185 (10.4%) | 1,478 (83.1%)
|
| Female | 243 (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
|
| Protestant | 1,213 | 47.0%
| 587 | 22.7% | 1,800
| 69.7% |
| Roman Catholic | 335 | 13.0%
| 251 | 9.7% | 586
| 22,7% |
| Non Determined | 133 | 5.1%
| 62 | 2.4% | 195
| 7.6% |
| Total | 1,681 |
65.1% | 900 | 34.9%
| 2,581 | 100.0%
|
| | |
| | | |
Annex C
PRISON GRADE STAFF AT 31/12/2006
BREAKDOWN BY COMMUNITY BACKGROUND AND GENDER
| Community Background | Male
| Female | Total
|
| Protestant | 1,120 | 67.1%
| 220 | 13.2% | 1,340
| 80.3% |
| Roman Catholic | 106 | 6.4%
| 37 | 2.2% | 143
| 8.6% |
| Non Determined | 170 | 10.2%
| 15 | 0.9% | 185
| 11.1% |
Total | 1,396
| 83.7% | 272 |
16.3% | 1,668 | 100.0%
|
| | |
| | | |
RECRUITMENT COMPETITION—NIGHT CUSTODY OFFICERS 2006
BREAKDOWN BY COMMUNITY BACKGROUND AND GENDER
APPLICANTS—1,726
| Community Background | Male
| Female | Total
|
| Protestant | 896 (51.9%) |
336 (19.5%) | 1,232 (71.4%) |
| Roman Catholic | 229 (13.3%)
| 96 (5.6%) | 325 (18.8%)
|
| Non Determined | 134 (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
|
| Protestant | 106 | 51.0%
| 58 | 27.9% | 164
| 78.9% |
| Roman Catholic | 19 | 9.1%
| 10 | 4.8% | 29
| 13.9% |
| Non Determined | 6 | 2.9%
| 9 | 4.3% | 15
| 7.2% |
Total | 131
| 63.0% | 77 |
37.0% | 208 | 100.0%
|
| | |
| | | |
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 |
| Protestant | 1,336 | Protestant
| 52 |
| Roman Catholic | 380 | Roman Catholic
| 10 |
| Non determined | 175 | Non determined
| 5 |
Total | 1,891
| Total | 67 |
| | |
|
| Gender | Gender
|
| Male | 1,317 | Male
| 36 |
| Female | 574 | Female
| 31 |
Total | 1,891
| Total | 67 |
| | |
|
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 |
| Protestant | 850 | Protestant
| 20 |
| Roman Catholic | 190 | Roman Catholic
| 6 |
| Non Determined | 90 | Non Determined
| 0 |
Total | 1,130
| Total | 26 |
| | |
|
| Gender | Gender
|
| Male | 756 | Male
| 17 |
| Female | 374 | Female
| 9 |
Total | 1,130
| Total | 26 |
| | |
|
|
