Country | United Kingdom: Northern Ireland |
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Ministry responsible |
Northern Ireland Office
|
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Prison administration |
Northern Ireland Prison Service
|
Contact address |
Dundonald House, Upper Newtonards Road, GB-Belfast BT4 3SU
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Telephone |
+44 028 9052 5219 or 0700
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Fax |
+44 028 9052 5375
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Website | |
Head of prison administration (and title) | Beverly Wall
Director General
|
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners) | 1 919
at 29.11.2024 (Northern Ireland prison administration)
|
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Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population) | 99
based on an estimated national population of 1.93 million at end of November 2024 (from updated Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency figures)
|
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population) | 36.5%
(average 2023/24)
|
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population) | 4.8%
(average 2023/24)
|
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population) | 0.6%
(31.1.2023 - under 18)
|
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population) | 11.3%
(31.1.2023)
|
Number of establishments / institutions | 3
(2023 - Maghaberry, Magilligan and Hydebank Wood)
|
Official capacity of prison system | 2 120
(1.1.2024)
|
Occupancy level (based on official capacity) | 86.2%
(1.1.2024)
|
Prison population trend (year, prison population total, prison population rate) |
|
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Concern over solitary confinement figures
Report finds improvement in prisoner rehabilitation
Nine prisoners die of drugs and alcohol abuse within days of leaving jail
Half of prisoners prescribed anti-depressants and mental health drugs
Shocking figures reveal assaults in Northern Ireland prisons
Pages
Prison Conditions in the United Kingdom
Pages
- Pre-trial/remand prison population: trend
- Female prison population: trend
- Prison population trend up to 2000
Pre-trial/remand prison population: trend
The table below gives an indication of the recent trend in the pre-trial/remand prison population. The final row shows the latest figures available.
It consists of the number of pre-trial/remand prisoners in the prison population on a single date in the year (or the annual average) and the percentage of the total prison population that pre-trial/remand prisoners constituted on that day.
The final column shows the pre-trial/remand population rate per 100,000 of the national population.
UNITED KINGDOM: NORTHERN IRELAND
Year | Number in | Percentage | Pre-trial/remand |
2000 | 311 | 29.1% | 19 |
2023/24 | 686 | 36.5% | 36 |
It should be noted that the number of pre-trial/remand prisoners fluctuates from day to day, month to month and year to year. Consequently the above figures give an indication of the trend but the picture is inevitably incomplete.
The pre-trial/remand population rate is calculated on the basis of the national population total. All national population figures are inevitably estimates but the estimates used in the World Prison Brief are based on official national figures, United Nations figures or figures from other recognised international authorities.
Female prison population: trend
The table below gives an indication of the trend in the female prison population. The final row shows the latest figures available.
It consists of the number of female prisoners in the prison population on a single date in the year (or the annual average) and the percentage of the total prison population that female prisoners constituted on that day.
The final column shows the female prison population rate per 100,000 of the national population.
UNITED KINGDOM: NORTHERN IRELAND
Year | Number of | Percentage | Female prison |
2000 | 23 | 2.2% | 1.4 |
2023/24 | 90 | 4.8% | 4.7 |
The number of female prisoners fluctuates and so the above figures give an indication of the trend but the picture is inevitably incomplete.
The female prison population rate is calculated on the basis of the national population total. All national population figures are inevitably estimates but the estimates used in the World Prison Brief are based on official national figures, United Nations figures or figures from other recognised international authorities.
(If the rate were calculated on the basis of the number of females in the national population it would of course be approximately double the figure in the final column).
Prison population trend up to 2000
The figures below give an indication of the prison population trend in the years up to 2000. They supplement the more recent figures that are shown at the foot of the Overview page and in the graphs below.
UNITED KINGDOM: NORTHERN IRELAND
Year |
Prison |
Prison population rate |
1970 |
816 |
54 |