Catholics urged to seek prison service jobs

Catholics were urged today to apply for 40 new jobs within the Northern Ireland Prison Service.

Bosses also want more women recruited as Night Custody Officers.

Director General Robin Masefield said: “Our aim is to achieve a workforce that is representative of the wider community and we are taking positive steps to address the under-representation of various groups within the Service.

“A career within the Prison Service can be very rewarding and we very much hope that people from all sections of the community will apply for these posts.”

Night Custody Officers were introduced last year to help free up experienced prison officers for daytime duties.

With an £18,700 (€27,627) annual salary, duties include: security of all areas, grilles and gates; observation of prisoners on a regular basis; patrolling the grounds; and escorting prisoners.

Successful applicants will be located at Maghaberry Prison near Lisburn, Co Antrim, Magilligan Prison in Co Derry, and Hydebank Wood Young Offenders Centre in Belfast.

Eighty NCOs have already been employed.

After talks with the Prison Officers’ Association an agreement was reached last month to widen their remit, releasing more into prisoner contact positions.