Naomi Long

The review was announced by Justice Minister Naomi Long in June and was originally due to be completed by the end of October.

Siobhan Keating, a consultant psychologist in Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, and Gillian Robinson, the HR director of the Probation Board for Northern Ireland, were appointed in July to undertake the review.

A spokesperson for the Department of Justice told Irish Legal News: “This review was due to report by the end of October. However, the review team has asked for more time to consider this important issue and will now report to the justice minister in mid-December.”

The Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS) recently rolled out an employee wellbeing programme called PrisonsWell which offers training, information services and access to a range of sources of support to staff.

Mrs Long said in June: “While I think the Service is doing much under the auspices of the PrisonsWell programme to support, prevent, assist and inform frontline officers in relation to health and wellbeing challenges they face, I want to be assured that what we are doing is sufficient and to consider if more needs to be done.”