Section Four National Preventive Mechanism member profiles is concerned at potential gaps in the NPM’s coverage in Northern Ireland, including those detained by the military and those detained by HM Revenues & Custom. and court custody. This involved visiting courthouses across Northern Ireland and monitoring escort vans, as well as interviews with detainees, staff and other stakeholders. Given the breadth of CJINI’s remit, designation as an NPM member has prompted it to increase its focus on inspecting places of detention, leading to its first inspections of police custody, prisoner escorting and court custody. Although CJINI was engaging in collaborative work prior to designation as a member of the UK’s NPM, designation has strengthened its collaborative working arrangements and encouraged the sharing of information with its fellow NPM members. During the year, CJINI published thematic reviews on prison staff training and development; life sentence prisoners making the transition to living in the community; mental health and the criminal justice system; and vulnerable prisoners.72 Summary of activities In 2009–10, CJINI inspected several places and types of detention and reviewed certain themes relating to detention. It carried out two unannounced inspections of the juvenile justice centre as well as fieldwork for the inspection of Magilligan, one of two prisons for adult males in Northern Ireland. In conjunction with HMIP, CJINI published a report of an inspection of Maghaberry, the other male prison. This inspection identified concerns in all four tests of a ‘healthy prison’: safety, respect, purposeful activity, and resettlement. The inspection found immediate attention was required to improve governance and accountability arrangements, to improve the relationship between the prison and Prison HQ, and to make changes to established working practices. During the year, the Chief Inspector of CJINI also conducted an unannounced visit to Maghaberry to observe a major search operation. In June 2009, CJINI published its first inspection of police custody. Overall, custody services performed to an acceptable standard but some concerns were identified. For example, CJINI noted the high cost of delivering forensic medical services in police custody and expressed concern about the inappropriate use of police custody as a place of safety for individuals with mental health problems. CJINI also carried out fieldwork for its first inspection of prisoner escorting arrangements Key issues A number of key issues have arisen during the course of CJINI’s inspections of places of detention. One recurring area of concern is the mental health of detainees. In 2010, CJINI published a thematic report on this issue. It recommended that those with mental disorders be diverted from custody as prisons are not therapeutic environments and generally have a negative impact on mental health. For those who are imprisoned, the quality of care must be improved. Another key issue arising from CJINI’s work relates to the care of vulnerable prisoners. CJINI’s thematic review of vulnerable prisoners was carried out following the suicide of a prisoner in Maghaberry. The review noted significant concerns. The day-to-day regime for vulnerable prisoners was inadequate for their ongoing care and they spent too long in their cells. The assessment and monitoring of prisoners at risk was also found to be inconsistent. Looking forward In the next year, CJINI will continue its inspection programme and will carry out a thematic review of how prisoners are prepared for their release from prison. CJINI will also continue to monitor issues identified this year, including recommendations made as a result of its inspection of Maghaberry. That inspection found that conditions for prisoners were an ongoing cause for concern: only 54% of recommendations made during the previous inspection had been achieved. CJINI will continue to press for implementation of the recommendations and to monitor the treatment and conditions of prisoners held there. 72 CJINI, Prison Service staff training and development: an inspection of the training and development of operational staff in the Northern Ireland Prison Service (2009), CJINI, A review of transition to community arrangements for life sentence prisoners in Northern Ireland (2009), CJINI, Not a marginal issue: mental health and the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland (2010), CJINI, Vulnerable prisoners: an inspection of the treatment of vulnerable prisoners by the Northern Ireland Prison Service (2009). 57