Prison authorities in Northern Ireland are at odds over whether a substance abuse strategy has been commenced, The Detail reports.

The Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS) and South Eastern Trust (SET) both confirmed that a joint substance misuse strategy has been agreed, two years later than initially promised.

However, the bodies did not reach a consensus on whether the strategy had been implemented or if it would be published.

A spokesperson for the prison service said: “The strategy was signed off in August and work continues on an implementation plan. It hasn’t been published yet, but may in due course.”

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the South Eastern Trust said: “SE Trust and NI Prison Service agreed a joint strategy in January 2017 and commenced implementation. The strategy is focused on operational practice and will not therefore be launched as a public document.”

The Criminal Justice Inspectorate (CJI), which called for the creation of the joint strategy in a report published three years ago, has criticised the slow and unclear progress of the recommendation.

Brendan McGuigan, chief inspector of criminal justice in Northern Ireland, told The Detail: “I have expressed my concern and frustration at the slow pace of progress in this key area, particularly given the priority I placed on progressing the recommendation. It is an issue which I have raised directly with the Prison Service.”

While welcoming “any meaningful progress”, he also called for “clear communication” between both bodies.

He said: “While CJI has not reviewed the strategy at this time, I firmly believe clear communication between both partners around this document and its implementation is vital to its operational success.”