Views sought on prison strategy

It has also been reported that millions will be spent on renovation and repair work before it is decommissioned in 2018.

The man ultimately responsible for the proposed closure of HMP Magilligan, Justice Minister David Ford, is seeking consultations on the Prison Estate’s strategy.

The Minister emphasised that the strategy should not be decided solely on the basis of the decision to close Magilligan.

The consultation period on the Northern Ireland Prison Service’s Outline Estate Strategy was published on June 7, and the deadline for consultations has been extended to September 28, 2012.

Among the key points regarding HMP Magilligan in the Strategy is the assertion of the prison review team that it is the “best functioning of all three prisons because it holds one type of prisoner only i.e. lower risk sentenced males.”

However, the Prison Review Team still made the reccomendation to close Magilligan “because it was located too far from prisoners’ homes and any possibility for employment.”

The Prison Estate’s Strategy adds: “The Prison Review Team also considered the H-blocks within Magilligan to be wholly unsuitable. In the 2010 CJINI inspection report, it was also stated that the physical environment within Magilligan remained marred by the continued use of the H-blocks which were difficult to supervise and had poor sanitary facilities. In relation to Magilligan the Prison Review Team report therefore suggested that it would be better to either build a new prison near a centre of population and key services; or use the site to hold long and life sentenced prisoner.”

Justice Minister and Alliance Party MLA David Ford commented on the publication of the strategy:“Much of the debate on the prison Estate Strategy has centred on the proposal to decommission Magilligan Prison and build a new prison on land adjacent to Maghaberry.

“While I understand the initial response, it is important that the strategy is considered in its entirety and not viewed as a single issue.”

He added: “The vast majority of people who are sent to prison will one day return to society. To make society safer, the prison service must work with offenders to lower the risk of them returning to crime when they come to the end their sentence. This requires an estate that is fit for present-day needs.

“The proposals for the development of a secure college for young offenders and the creation of appropriate facilities for female prisoners are central to the reducing re-offending agenda.”

The Roe Valley Chamber of Commerce has estimated the cost to the Limavady Borough of the proposed closure of HMP Magilligan to be in the region of millions of pounds.