Debate contribution: Prisons: Staffing Levels
Debate contribution by Mrs Naomi Long on .
- MLA
- Mrs Naomi Long
- Party at the time
- Alliance Party
- Date
- 30 June 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Prisons: Staffing Levels
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5653170
Read the official Assembly record
Text
Recruitment plays a key role in the Prison Service's ability to deliver a consistent and productive regime for those who are committed to our care. It is encouraging that so many people applied to become prison officers in response to the recent campaign. Between January and March this year, 67 newly recruited prison officers have commenced or completed training at Prison Service College. A further recruitment intake is being planned this year to ensure that the Prison Service has the staff needed in response to population pressures. We work towards target staffing levels in line with an agreed budget. The target staffing level is also kept under review to take into account population changes and, indeed, the complexity of the population. It is fair to say that much of that is budget dependent and, therefore, without proper investment in the justice system and in the prison system, particularly, we will struggle to meet the demands of those being committed to our care.
162 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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