Douglas South MHK Bill Malarkey says he is relishing the challenge of an extended role at the Department of Home Affairs. Mr Malarkey has accepted an extension to his remit at the Department by taking on political responsibility for the Isle of Man Prison Service. The appointment was announced this week by Home Affairs Minister Adrian Earnshaw MHK who said: ‘Bill is an active and dedicated member of the Department and will bring a great deal of enthusiasm to this position. He is already the political head of the Probation Service, so it makes good sense for him to assume responsibility for the Prison Service at a time when the Department is progressing plans to integrate the two services to achieve more effective joint working.’ Mr Malarkey will work in partnership with Minister Earnshaw and Prison Governor Alison Gomme to oversee the introduction of a new combined service for the management of offenders. The aim is for the integration of the Prison and Probation Services to further enhance community safety in the Island and improve outcomes for both victims and offenders. Mr Malarkey said: ‘This is an exciting and challenging time for the Department’s criminal justice teams and I’m keen to play my part in driving forward a fresh approach to the way offenders are dealt with in the Isle of Man. One of the priorities is to address issues around repeat offending, and I look forward to working alongside the people who are at the forefront of those efforts to reduce crime and thereby improve the quality of life for all Island residents.’ Ends