Prison dramatically transforms with 'outcomes for prisoners now among the best'

A prison once branded dangerous and Dickensian has made immensely encouraging progress, a report said.

Maghaberry high-security jail in Co Antrim holds life prisoners convicted of the most serious offences including murder and paramilitaries.

Many struggle with substance abuse, self-harm, lack of education and poor mental health and some are extremely vulnerable.

In April watchdogs revisited the institution three years after finding it "unsafe, unstable and disrespectful'', and said excellent leadership efforts to stabilise it had borne fruit.

The inspectors said: "We rarely see a prison make the sort of progress evident at Maghaberry and it is to the credit of all those involved that many of the outcomes for the men held at the prison are now among the best we have seen in this type of prison in recent years.''

Levels of violence and disorder had reduced significantly and the prison was much more stable and calm, while relations between staff and prisoners had been "transformed''.

Areas where inmates congregate were once no-go zones for staff but are now regularly patrolled.

The prison had been described 'unsafe, unstable and disrespectful 3 years ago

Reservations remain over the handling of vulnerable prisoners, the inspectors said.

Five inmates have killed themselves since the last inspection and a "very high'' 500 reports of prisoners at risk had been opened recently.

Observation cells for inmates vulnerable to self-harm had been used 200 times and strip clothing, designed to be resistant to suicide bids, in 80% of cases, which inspectors noted can add to distress.

The Criminal Justice Inspectorate said more work was needed to ensure vulnerable inmates were not further distressed by their treatment.

Chief inspector of Criminal Justice Brendan McGuigan acknowledged the hurt suffered by those who loved ones died behind bars.

He said: "When they (officers) engage and start to use some of their softer skills the results can be really positive and satisfying from a personal perspective, that today I really helped someone.

"I see that increasingly around Maghaberry, the work of the prisoner safety and support team.

"These are people trying to identify the vulnerable prisoners and ensure they get access to as much support as they can to minimise the risk.''

A series of tragic deaths and incidents have occurred at Maghaberry.

At risk prisoners are held in a dedicated section, specially designed to limit the possibility of self-harming.

The unit is fairly spacious and open, with high ceilings.

Chess and scrabble boards are available.

While use of cells which can be easily observed by officers and clothing which is difficult to rip into ligatures can make sense from a security perspective, it runs the risk of further distressing vulnerable inmates, inspectors have explained.

One of the governors at Maghaberry, David Savage, said special efforts had been made to understand the position of vulnerable inmates.

He said: "If you are going to help someone out of a crisis you have to understand what that crisis is and help and support them out of it and we are doing it extremely effectively now.''

If needs be officers can be posted outside cells, with the door open, for 24 hours a day if a prisoner is in crisis.

Mr Savage acknowledged using observation cells sometimes prolonged incidents involving vulnerable prisoners.

During one case recently someone with mental health issues assaulted a member of staff.

Mr Savage said: "Instead of isolating him we put him in an observation cell on his own.

"We decided that we would only escalate if he escalated."

The unannounced inspection was conducted in April this year by Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland, HM Inspectorate of Prisons, the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority and the Education Training Inspectorate.

It said the regime inside was much better than observed previously and was being delivered reliably.

It also said learning, skills and the provision of work had improved but much more still needed to be done.

The inspectors said rehabilitation and release planning work was amongst the best they had seen.

The report made 14 recommendations surrounding the negative perceptions held by many prisoners, the need for timely responses to health complaints and poorer outcomes seen by Catholic inmates.

It said the practice of supplying medicines which had been prescribed for direct administration by prison staff should be reviewed to reduce the opportunity for bullying by other prisoners.

Prison Service director general Ronnie Armour said: "This latest report demonstrates the huge progress which has been made at Maghaberry Prison.

"From a facility which was described in 2015 as 'unsafe, unstable and disrespectful', criminal justice inspectors are now reporting 'progress rarely seen' with 'outcomes for prisoners now among the best'.'