Peace process politics must not destroy the Prison Service, as it did the RUC - Allister
20 April 2011
Statement by TUV Leader Jim Allister:-
“In the context of an on-going terrorist threat it is abject folly to diminish prison security and control through what is passed off as prison reform. The lessons of the past demonstrate the risks of losing control of the prisons. However, under David Ford we are seeing a rush to get rid of brave officers and proven structures, with the danger of facilitating paramilitary control.
“Already there is too much prisoner control, but more is demanded. Just this week – whatever the public distance proclaimed between Sinn Fein and the ‘dissidents’ – a Sinn Fein delegation visited Maghaberry for discussions on the prisoners’ demands. Now, we have in place a Justice Minister whose whole political DNA shapes an approach of surrender.
“Within the Assembly TUV MLAs will be robust in pushing Minister Ford on his so called reform agenda, determined that we do not end up with the same sacrifice of good officers and the same control deficit as happened in the police under Patten.”
