The North's prison service is to undergo substantial changes, including the closure of its training college and relocation of its headquarters, according to confidential proposals sent to the Security Minister, Mr Adam Ingram, and leaked to a local newspaper.
Job losses are likely to result from the restructuring.
A greenfield site, as well as a city-centre location, are currently under consideration for the move. Co Down, which is on a prime 100-acre site on the Co Down coastline, and relocating it to Maghaberry Prison. The move from Millisle to Maghaberry is expected to take about two years. A prison service spokesman said yesterday the future of the prison service college had been in doubt for some time, while the owners of Dundonald House had asked the prison service to move out of the premises next year. The proposals, which cover the period to 2002, outline a scenario in which security and criminal justice functions will have been devolved to the power-sharing Assembly and the prison service would be part of a local ministry of justice.