Instituted 25th February 2002
The medal was awarded to Northern Ireland Prison Service personnel who, between 1 January 1971 and 29 September 2002, completed five years meritorious full or part-time service in a prison establishment. Those qualifying included both operational staff – prison officers and governors – and non-operational personnel – including chaplains, instructors and medical and maintenance staff. Headquarters personnel did not qualify, unless they had specifically been placed in danger or had made an exceptional contribution to prison establishments. The five years service requirement did not apply to those killed or retired due to injury.
