Overview

• The IPS confirmed paying €20,000 plus €4,600 VAT to The 2 Johnnies for a sponsored episode promoting prison officer careers.
• Internal emails described a bespoke format featuring two serving officers of different tenure and gender discussing their roles.
• Briefing materials provided to the officers included suggested questions and answers with first‑year earning potential up to €70,000 and salary bands once qualified.
• The IPS required review of the final cut with editorial adjustments to prevent content that could compromise prison security.
• The partnership was pursued for reach, with the podcast citing 700,000 weekly listeners, as the IPS targets 300 recruits in 2025 after receiving 1,500 applications.