Jon Burrows, North Antrim MLA, has expressed his concerns over prison officers who are being exposed to second-hand smoke from prison inmates, as Northern Ireland remains the only part of the United Kingdom not to have a smoking ban in prisons.  

Burrows said, “It is unjustifiable that prison officers in Northern Ireland who already do a difficult and stressful job must also endure second-hand smoke in their workplace.

“The Ulster Unionist Party has been listening closely to the concerns of our prison officers, and we are now demanding that the Department of Justice and the Northern Ireland Prison Service take immediate policy and operational steps to protect the health of those who serve on the front line.

“The ban on smoking in prisons across Great Britain has been a clear success, improving the health of both prisoners and prison staff. There is no reason why Northern Ireland should lag behind in protecting our officers from passive smoking.

“We have submitted urgent questions to the Department of Justice to determine why Northern Ireland remains out of step with the rest of the United Kingdom on this crucial issue. Our prison officers deserve the same protection as their colleagues elsewhere, and we will continue to press for swift action to safeguard their health.”