Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nicholas Dakin and Robin Swann

Tuesday 22nd April 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Nicholas Dakin]

We have only just taken over a system that was struggling under the weight of 14 years of mismanagement, and we are doing our very best to get on top of it. We have set in train an independent sentencing review, and are committed to appointing 1,300 new probation officers by this time next year.

[Robin Swann (South Antrim) (UUP)]

10. What recent discussions she has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on trends in levels of prison capacity.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Sir Nicholas Dakin)]

Ministry of Justice officials regularly meet representatives of the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland, as part of the “Five Nations Forum”, to discuss prison capacity. This allows best practice to be shared and emerging issues to be discussed. The Prisons Minister in the other place knows the Northern Ireland prisons system well, and will be going there later this year to compare notes.

[Robin Swann]

The Minister has mentioned best practice. The “separated regime” in Northern Ireland prisons gives those who have been committed to prison as a result of paramilitary activities a special kudos, and when they are released they emerge with a certain status. Can the Minister see the inherent dangers of applying such a policy on a wider scale when dealing with people who may have been radicalised while in prison and may, when released, bring the effects of that into a broader section of society?

[Sir Nicholas Dakin]

The hon. Member is right to suggest that we need to learn lessons from wherever they can be learned, and he is right to caution against approaches that might bring about results that people do not wish to see.