Prison Management Cannot Escape Responsibility

New Zealand’s prisons are being run like “Hi De Hi” holiday camps, said New Zealand First corrections spokesperson, Ron Mark, in response to the weekend escape of two dangerous convicts.

“Escapers from Manawatu Prison had a 12-hour head start before prison staff even reported that they were missing,” said Mr Mark. “What exactly was $2 million spent on when the fence was upgraded recently?”

“There have been too many escapes and too many dangerous convicts getting out in the most ridiculous circumstances – too many occasions where public safety is being compromised.

“No one holding positions of responsibility within the prison service has come up with any answers or offered the community any reassurance that security will be improved.

“Tougher court sentences are a complete waste of time if prison security is given such a low priority,” said Mr Mark. “As if police aren’t busy enough already, the Corrections Department is compounding their workload by making them catch criminals twice.

“If the Minister of Corrections does not take action, I will seek to initiate a select committee inquiry into the management of the prison service. The public deserves to know how millions of dollars is being pumped into Corrections without any visible improvement in security.

”If any member of the public is injured by escaper Stephen Hudson, nothing short of a ministerial resignation would be considered acceptable,” said Mr Mark.

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