The first group of custody officers from the Prison Service College in Millisle have graduated.
The 20 graduates completed an intensive eight-week training programme and will next week begin a programme of work which will see them gain operational experience at each of the three prison establishments in Northern Ireland.
Another 40 recruits are currently undergoing training and a further 100 will commence their training in the coming weeks.
Attending the graduation Justice Minister David Ford said: “Today heralds a significant milestone in our ongoing prisons reform programme with the passing–out of the first group of new custody officers.
“Successive reports had made the case for fundamental changes to the workings of our Prison Service and today’s ceremony is another sign of the progress we are making in delivering those changes.
“Prisons are a challenging working environment and I congratulate today’s graduates on completing the first stage of their training programme and wish them well as they experience working life in each of our prisons.”
The Minister said that the recruitment of new staff was a key element to the creation of a modern, professional, efficient and skilled Prison Service.
He continued: “Refreshing the workforce is a central part of the reform agenda and these custody officers will play their part in maintaining a safe, decent and secure environment within our prisons and rehabilitating prisoners.”
The starting salary for the new custody officers will be £18,000, rising to £23,000. The salary scale will increase with the successful completion of training.