Further written evidence from the Prisoner
Ombudsman for Northern Ireland
It was a privilege to meet with members of the
Northern Ireland Affairs Committee on 6 June. Thank you for the
courtesy extended to me on that occasion.
You invited me to forward any further comments
relevant to the Committees Inquiry into the Northern Ireland Prison
Service. With this in mind there are two issues which I would
wish to raise the issue of resources and that of statutory footing.
The first of these is for clarification.
In the course of Committee questions Mr S Wilson
MP referred to being confused regarding my reference to resource
problems for my office and my concurrent wish to see the Northern
Ireland Probation Service brought within my remit. May I simply
clarify that I did not make any case before the Committee for
additional resources. The resource issue which I raised with the
Committee related to fourteen staff changes over a fifteen month
period in a staff team of twelve persons. I stated that the Civil
Service staff processes, especially the impact of promotion boards,
render inadequate the present model for staffing my office.
I also gave the example of how it took from
October 2006 when approval was given until May 2007 to fill a
new Senior Investigator Post. I went on to link the current staffing
model to the issue of statutory footing for my Office. The issue
of including the Probation Service within my remit relates to
the reality that the Probation Service has staff located in our
prisons providing crucial services to prisoners. It makes good
sense to empower me to deal with prisoner complaints arising from
such staffing arrangements. I do not consider that I need more
investigative resources to deal with the small number of complaints
which could be anticipated. With regard to complaints which might
arise from giving me oversight over the non custodial work of
the Probation Service I would possibly need extra resources. The
real issue arising here is that no progress is being made to put
in place accountability comparable to that reflected in the remit
of the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman for England and Wales.
One important issues in relation to statutory
footing is that I should be accountable to Parliament for my aspect
of Prison Service oversight and eventually with devolution to
the Northern Ireland Assembly. This above all would underscore
the independence of my Office. I am told that the failure to deliver
proper statutory footing for my Office in accordance with the
wishes of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the
Prisons Minister is due to lack of resources with particular regard
to non availability of persons with legislative draughting skills.
I hold the view that the Northern Ireland Office has a duty to
provide for the development of my office and that the prevailing
situation reflects an unacceptable policy vacuum.
I am aware that the Committees interests are
much wider than the issue of the status of the Office of Prisoner
Ombudsman and I regret therefore that I have found it necessary
to raise this issue. My views on Prison Service Estate and Healthcare
are, I hope, clear. The overriding concern which I have is that
the transition upon which the Northern Ireland Prison Service
is embarking is at its most fundamental one which has more to
do with strategic and cultural change. We ask prisons staff to
do one of the most difficult public service jobs on behalf of
society. Then there are the added difficulties which arise from
the legacy of conflict in Northern Ireland together with the prisoner
and staff management disadvantages of diseconomies of scale of
our Prison Service. For these reasons I would hope that the Committees
deliberations and conclusions might facilitate improved strategic
clarity about the kind of prison service Northern Ireland needs
and can afford for the future.
Finally, Lady Hermon asked if the Committee
could be provided with copies of my information leaflets for prisoners
and I have pleasure in enclosing samples of these.[41]
Brian Coulter
Prisoner Ombudsman for Northern Ireland
11 June 2007
41 Not printed here. Back
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