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NI: Prison security

01 July 2003

Following the Hennessey Report into the 1983 mass escape from the Maze Prison in Belfast the Northern Ireland Office introduced a special regime for a few prisoners it regarded as "high risk". The so-called "red book" system was designed to prevent such prisoners building any relationships with other prisoners or prison officers. It involved a cell move every few weeks and a cell and strip search every 72 hours. At night red book prisoners were supposed to be checked every 15 minutes. From 26 August, this regime will be substantially modified and prisoners will now be allowed to stay on a wing for up to six months. However, they will still be denied the paroles granted to other prisoners. There are currently 10 red book prisoners.

The change was announced at a time of increasing tension within the prisons and the prison service itself. The Prison Officers Association has been in dispute with the Northern Ireland Office over staffing levels. But there are growing signs of conflict between prisoners and staff, particularly loyalist prisoners. For example, in June a prison officer was badly beaten by loyalists in Maze Prison; this was followed by several UVF gun attacks on the homes of prison officers.