The Northern Ireland Prison Service has launched a recruitment drive for up to 200 new staff. It is the first recruitment campaign for prison officers in Northern Ireland for more than 20 years.

The new custody officers will replace prison officers leaving as part of a redundancy scheme.

So far 371 officers have volunteered to leave and that number is expected to rise by the time applications for redundancy close on Friday.

There are more than 1,700 prison officers in Northern Ireland and the prison service wants 540 of them to retire early to make way for new recruits on lower salaries.

The redundancy scheme has been introduced for officers aged over 50. Many qualify for a lump sum payment of more than £100,000, plus an annual pension of £18,500.

Up to 200 new jobs are now available for custody officers, who will be responsible for maintaining security and supervising the movement of prisoners.

Prison officers who take redundancy can apply to be re-employed in the new roles.  But sources say that is unlikely to happen, because the new jobs will not be as financially attractive.

Transformation:
The new custody officers will start on a salary of £18,000 - rising to a maximum of £23,000.  The prison officers targeted in the redundancy scheme earn up to £38,000 a year.