Simon Power MP
National Party Justice & Corrections Spokesman

27 January 2007

New Burton revelations a scandal

It’s a scandal that the Probation Service failed to act despite senior police begging it to recall convicted killer Graeme Burton, says National Party Justice & Corrections spokesman Simon Power.

The Dominion-Post reported today that senior police phoned Burton’s probation officer on 30 November about his activities and sought his recall. That was six days before he failed to show for a scheduled meeting with the probation officer.

“So we now know that at the time when he failed to show for that meeting, the service was already armed with information from the police about Burton’s activities,” says Mr Power.

“Despite this, and knowing that the police wanted his parole revoked, the service took no action for another 14 days. By then, he’d gone to ground.

“The Probation Service’s disregard for the information from the police amounts to utter negligence.

“Armed with the knowledge and knowing the police wanted him recalled, they did nothing.

“Someone’s head has to roll at the Probation Service. Corrections Minister Damien O’Connor must front up about the mess in the Department of Corrections and explain this latest failure.”

ENDS

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