Northern Ireland’s Justice Minister Claire Sugden has welcomed the start of Prisons Week 2016 which encourages everyone to remember victims of crime, prison workers, prisoners and their families.

She spoke about the “despicable murder” of prison officer Adrian Ismay in March, who was seriously injured after a bomb exploded under his van, and paid tribute to him, his family, and his colleagues in the Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS).

Ms Sugden also spoke later about working together to “find ways of increasing job opportunities for offenders”.

She said businesses had an important role to play in making Northern Ireland safer as “having a job changes lives”.

Addressing serving prisoners who attended one event, Ms Sugden said: “Being in prison does not have to define who you are or what you will do in the future. This is an opportunity to engage with businesses and to highlight what you have to offer them.

“Seize that opportunity and rebuild your lives for yourselves and for your families. This is your chance to play a positive role in your community.”

Sue McAllister, outgoing NIPS director general, added: “Prisons Week is an important part of the year.

“As well as highlighting the crucial work of our staff and remembering victims of crime, it is also important that we also recognise the impact of imprisonment, and in particular the effect it has on the families of prisoners.

“Families are often forgotten but we know that when a prisoner leaves custody they are much less likely to re-offend if they have a positive support network.

“I want to commend the work of our many service partners for the work they do to ensure that family connections are maintained while people are in prison. That support helps the Prison Service to play our part in reducing re-offending and building a safer community.”