'Government must look again at prison officers' safety'

12.00.00am GMT Tue 11th Nov 2003

ALLIANCE Victims' Spokesperson Eileen Bell has said that the Government must look again at whether it is doing enough to ensure the safety of prison officers.

Mrs Bell said that there had been a number of attacks on serving and retired prison officers in North Down, where she served as an Assembly member.

Condemning the attacks on prison officers, Mrs Bell stated: "There has been a wall of silence surrounding this sordid little campaign against prison officers, and it is time to end it. Clearly, the NIO needs to look hard at whether it is providing adequate and appropriate security for serving and retired officers.

"But there is no good reason for the attacks on officers to continue. I am calling on the cowards behind the violence being directed against prison officers to end their bullying now, before someone is hurt or killed."