§ 6. Lady Hermon (North Down)How many attacks there have been on (a) serving and (b) former prison officers in Northern Ireland in each of the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [134148]
§ The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (Jane Kennedy)There have been 53 attacks on serving prison officers and five attacks on former officers in the past 12 months.
Attacks on prison officers are attacks on men and women doing an important and difficult job on behalf of the whole community. Those prison officers deserve and require the wholehearted backing of the community and their representatives.
§ Lady HermonAs so many attacks have been in my constituency, will the Minister come with me to explain to the families precisely how she intends to lift the morale of prison officers, who feel so terribly demoralised at present?
§ Jane KennedyI often meet the families and representatives of prison officers and am conscious of, and take seriously, the safety and security of prison officers and their homes. Putting the lives of women and children at risk to try to influence the way in which prison officers do their jobs should be condemned by all right-thinking people. I would be happy to meet prison officers and their families if the hon. Lady brought a delegation.