Has Ford a Backdoor Plan to Strip Prison Staff of Royal Links?
22 March 2012
Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“People across the Province will doubtless recall how Peter Robinson threatened to resign as co-First Minister and trigger an election after TUV exposed David Ford’s plan to strip Her Majesty’s Prisons in Northern Ireland of their royal connections.
“There are now reports that Minister Ford – whose tenure as Justice Minister was extended by DUP MLAs in a vote last month – may be planning to phase out the Crown on the uniform worn by staff and remove the motif carrying the initials HMP by the back door.
“I have been informed that there are plans to abolish the rank of prison officer and that new recruits to the service will therefore be issued with a new uniform which will display a staff number instead of the HMP motif and that they will have a black button where the crown symbol is on the uniforms of serving prison officers.
“Should the rank of prison officer be abolished it will be of very little significance that the royal insignia are retained on the uniforms of staff holding that position as they will be replaced by the new intake of recruits – all of whom will be wearing a uniform purged of the crown and references to Her Majesty’s Prisons.
“This would be totally unacceptable and a gross insult to the memory of those who gave their lives while serving in the ranks of HM’s Prison Service during the Troubles.
“I have today tabled a priority written question to Minister Ford asking him to clarify the situation”
Note to editors
Mr Allister’s question to Minister Ford reads as follows:
To ask the Minister of Justice whether the uniform of the new staff being recruited to the Northern Ireland Prison Service will have a badge or other motif showing 'HMP' and/or the Crown.
