Debate focuses on female inmates

Women prisoners in Northern Ireland are held at Hydebank Wood

The treatment of women in Northern Ireland's prison system is being debated at a human rights conference.

Last year, a report for the Criminal Justice Inspectorate criticised conditions for female inmates at the Hydebank Wood centre in Belfast.

Speaking at the conference the director of the Prison Service said progress was being made to improve conditions.

Robin Masefield said the issue of women prisoners was not one "for the Prison Service alone".

"An important consideration is the fact that, often, the women in our care come to prison by default as the services in the wider community cannot adequately meet their needs," he said.

"On occasions this very lack has contributed to the offending behaviour that leads to their imprisonment.

'Long-standing problems'

"There is, I fear, sometimes an unrealistic expectation that the Prison Service can resolve long-standing problems that the community has been unable to address."

Mr Masefield said this "did not excuse the mistakes made by the Prison Service", but the complex needs and traumatic histories of many women prisoners presented "major challenges" for the service.

The NI Human Rights Commission has made recommendations to improve conditions for the inmates.

Tuesday's conference was chaired by new chief commissioner of Human Rights, Professor Monica McWilliams.

"This conference will review the important research carried out by the commission in investigating the conditions under which women prisoners are held and highlighting ways in which a more humane and transparent prison regime can be developed," she said.

"Many prisoners, particularly women, end up in prison because of factors such as mental health problems, educational difficulties, sexual abuse, and alcohol and drug related issues.

Prison conditions

"These factors need to be properly addressed by the Prison Service as part of a long term strategy which can embed a human rights culture in places of detention."

Speakers include Anne Owers, Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales, and those who have carried out research into the conditions of female prisoners in NI jails.

The report on Hydebank, which was based on a surprise inspection carried out at the jail, found current provisions at the facility did not meet the needs of female prisoners.

Female inmates were moved to the young offenders centre at Hydebank in 2004 after the prison authorities decided it would offer them a "more comprehensive female specific regime" than Maghaberry Prison in County Antrim.

However, the report said the move was poorly implemented and also criticised a lack of trained staff to manage inmates at risk of suicide or self harm.