The Northern Ireland Prison Service : First Report of Session 2007-08 - v. 1 : Report, Together with Formal Minutes

With around 1,500 prisoners and an estate of three prisons, the Northern Ireland Prison Service is a very small prison service.

This inquiry was undertaken to examine whether the estate was adequate and appropriate for the secure accommodation of Northern Ireland's prisoners and whether the Prison Service meets the health, education, and training needs of prisoners.One of the main conclusions of the report is that the current Comprehensive Spending Review does not provide sufficient capital for the substantial redesign of the prison estate.

If criminal justice is to be devolved the Committee hope that capital investment in the prison estate will be a priority of the Northern Ireland Executive.

If not, the Secretary of State will have to argue for an increase in funding.The accompanying "The Northern Ireland Prison Service - Volume II: Oral and Written Evidence (HC 118-II)" (ISBN 0215037723) is available to buy separately, see below.