Big rise in number of offenders being recalled to prison for breach of licence

THE number of individuals recalled to prison due to a breach in their licence has increased by almost 34% in just two years, latest figures reveal.

Offenders who are freed to serve the remainder of their sentence under supervision in the community can be recalled if they fail to abide by specific conditions.

Last year 222 people were recalled to prison for breach of licence, with five of these subject to a life licence.

That compares with 166 cases in 2022 — a year-on-year increase of just over 33%.

In 2016 Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland published a report into the impact of prisoner recalls on the justice system.

It found the biggest impact arising from recalled offenders fell on the Prison Service, which at the time was dealing with a rise in the jail population — a continuing situation today — and the consequent demand on resources.

UUP leader Doug Beattie said it was “clear” the Prison Service and Probation Board had suffered from a lack of resources in recent years.

“Prisoners being released on licence are not being prepared adequately and those under supervision of the Probation Board are simply not being monitored sufficiently,” he added.

“Again, this is due to budget restriction and lack of leadership at ministerial level.

“The procedure for releasing a prisoner on licence must be reviewed in order to ensure those being released have the ability to adhere to their licence restrictions.”

At the beginning of March, 2021 the prison population was 1,401.

By March this year it had risen by 34% to 1,879 — over a third of whom were unsentenced.

By the end of 2024 it is predicted the prison population will break the 2,000 mark — the highest it has been since the Troubles.

Last month Justice Minister Naomi Long said the Prison Service was managing this situation by “preparing all suitable accommodation at both Magilligan and Maghaberry for occupation; closely monitoring and managing the balance of the population between Maghaberry and Magilligan; maximising the safe use of cell sharing (‘doubling-up’) where possible, and delivering the best prison regimes and services possible with the resources they have available, including through levering in support from other government partners and the voluntary and community sector”.

“The Prison Service has also been actively recruiting and since January 2022, 275 officers have joined... it is anticipated that a further 27 new recruits will be in post by mid-march,” she added.

“Like all prison systems, and particularly in a small jurisdiction, there is a point at which the number of people in prison custody begins to have a significant adverse impact upon all of our objectives in the justice system.”

Mrs Long also warned that our prisons were running out of space to hold offenders.