Prison redundancy scheme unveiled

Published Tuesday, 08 November 2011
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The Northern Ireland Prison Service is hoping 540 prison officers will accept a £60m voluntary redundancy package, which was announced on Tuesday.

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More than 600 members of staff serving in the prison officer and governor grades, who are aged 50 or over, will be eligible to apply for the scheme.

The payments they receive will depend on the length of time in the job and individual circumstances.

But officials have given the example of what can be expected by an officer with 40 years' service and a salary of £37,000.

The officer's pre-tax package would total £120,250.

This includes a tax-free lump sum of £55,500, a compensation lump sum of £18,500 (before tax), compensation in lieu of notice £18,500 (before tax), and an additional payment of £27,750 (before tax).

The officer would also receive an annual pension of £18,500, which would be subject to tax.

Those staff opting for the scheme will begin to leave the Service from next spring.

In this very challenging economic environment, this is by far the best package the service can offer.

NIPS Director General Colin McConnell

The prison service is planning to recruit 400 new staff which will be introduced by 2012.

A different uniform is likely to be introduced and they will be known as custody officers and more highly skilled offenders' supervisors.

Justice Minister David Ford said the staffing levels have to be addressed to reform the Prison Service.

"The publication of this scheme underlines my commitment to fundamental transformation of the Northern Ireland Prison Service," Mr Ford said.

"As the programme of reform gathers pace over the next six months we should never forget the commitment and sacrifice shown by Prison Service staff," he added.

The scheme will cost £60m over the next two years but is expected to generate savings of £180m over the next 10 years.

"The publication of the scheme allows our officer and governor grades to make an informed decision about whether or not they want to be a part of the new and transformed Northern Ireland Prison Service or whether they wish to leave to pursue other interests," NIPS Director General Colin McConnell said.

"How we work, and the way in which we work, will change as we move towards becoming a modern, effective and efficient Prison Service with reducing the risk of reoffending at our core.

"The Exit Scheme is the catalyst for this transformation and will pave the way for a new business operating model to be launched next April," Mr McConnell added.

There has been criticism of the new scheme from the Prison Officers Association.

POA chairman Finlay Spratt said: "The officers of the future will still have to maintain control and discipline within the establishment."

"I think they are going to decimate the prison service, and if you think it's bad in the prison service now I think it is going to get worse."

Sinn Féin Vice Chair of the Justice Committee, Raymond McCartney, said: "There has not been open recruitment in the prison service since 1994 but the problems highlighted in many recent reports persist, highlighting the need for transformation, reform and modernistaion.

"This can only come about with new staff and the exit of old staff and their old habits."

But DUP Justice Committee member Jim Wells said the redundancy scheme should remain voluntary and experience of older Prison Service staff should not be disregarded.

"Whilst the cost of keeping a prisoner in Northern Ireland has been rightly pointed to as being well above that in the rest of the United Kingdom it is important that we do not leave the service without sufficient experienced personnel for the future," he said.

Prison Service management have met with the Prison Officers Association and the Prison Governors Association to brief them on the details of the scheme.

Depending on the uptake, the service may launch a second Voluntary Early Severance Scheme early next year for staff under 50.

© UTV News
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11 Comments
Patricia in Bangor wrote (197 days ago):
This is sheer madness and a complete waste of money! If changes need to be made to the NIPS why not make them with the existing staff?? The money would be better spent on eg health etc - how many frontline staff would this amount of money pay for? Seems that the folks on the hill need a drastic change of policy and personnel if this is all they can come up with!! Just another hair-brained idea! What crazy schemes are they going to come up with next? It is time they thought of something that the electorate want eg creating jobs and wealth for Northern Ireland.
Ex Officer in Antrim wrote (197 days ago):
I also took the deal 11 years ago when it became obvious that HMG was going in the direction of prisoner releases.After the Prison Service gets rid of all the old hands, the service will go down ther tubes like the RUC did.Spineless politicians once again at work. No mention of the millions about to be squandered on fun and games in Magilligan prison, there again the general public dont seem to be asking the question as to why its so expensive to keep prisoners in jail in N/Ireland? After all its only tax payers money thats being squandered!!
Frosty in Here wrote (198 days ago):
@Steve, am not very good at maths but by my reckoning, taking it that 600 officers aged 50 and above may retire with a pension scheme of £18,500 per annum and could live for 30 years or more each, that's an estimated cost of £330 million in pensions alone (approximately £11.1 million a year). I don't know, is that good value for money? Presumably the new pay grade of custody officer will be basically the same job but for less money and only 400 posts will be available and possibly refilled by the ex prison officers who take the golden handshake?
john in bangor wrote (198 days ago):
jail more crims to keep the staff ratio proportional!
billy in Belfast wrote (198 days ago):
Glad to see Mr Ford can agree to give tax free lump sum What happened when it came to pay out PTR RUC, it was taxed, surprise, surprise Not one of the folks on hill the give a damm so long as im alright jack Well done lads make sure It is tax free before you accept
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