A NEW resettlement officer at the Isle of Man Prison has said he wants to reduce the number of victims in the Island.

Prison officer Paul Wade, 49, has been appointed to the position of resettlement officer and will undertake duties which are critical to ensuring custody planning is managed efficiently.

He will be supporting the resettlement principal officer and other members of the resettlement team.

Paul said: "Resettlement is a key area not only within the prison but also outside the prison too. We do not have the same level of financial resources, facilities, organisations or specialised professional personnel available as the UK service.

"This however does not mean we're second best - far from it. I've been involved with many capable and enthusiastic agencies on the Island that have a unique community spirit and I look forward to working closely with them.

"Our aim in resettlement is to reduce the number of victims on the Isle of Man. If an ex-prisoner has somewhere to live, is employed and has some form of ID such as a bank account, then this creates stability, ownership and responsibility in their lives and recidivism is vastly reduced.

"I'm therefore keen to seek out new employers and organisations who are willing to give prisoners a chance in proving themselves and to help me in assisting prisoners return to a normal life without the need of offending."

Paul's role will include liaising with outside agencies, including the Drug and Alcohol Team and Kemmyrk, organising public protection meetings, initiating custody plans and assisting with the prison work allocation boards.

Resettlement and regimes deputy governor Nigel Fisher said: "I would like to congratulate Paul on his new appointment. He has shown a real commitment to resettlement and is a valued addition to the team."

The new resettlement post is not an additional post in the prison. It has been created by reorganising certain officer positions in order to maximise staff usage and efficiency.