Simon Power MP
National Party Justice & Corrections Spokesman

22 March 2007

Minister, CEO disagree on prison corruption

Confusion continues to reign in Corrections over the extent of corruption in prisons, says National’s Justice & Corrections spokesman, Simon Power.

He is commenting on a report today that CEO Barry Matthews has ordered managers to start ‘sniffing around’ their prisons as signs emerge that corruption may not be unique to Rimutaka Prison.

“Barry Matthews is quoted as saying ‘We’ve got a big problem … at Rimutaka, but we’ve got some indications we could have it wider than Rimutaka’, and ‘I can’t give an absolute assurance that everywhere else is hunky dory’.

“But just two days ago, Damien O’Connor stood in Parliament and, in answer to my question ‘Does he stand by his claim that corruption amongst prison staff is not widespread and is not rife’, said: ‘I stand by that statement.’

“And that was after Public Prisons Service General Manager Harry Hawthorn said ‘I expect there will be more’, and they are ‘starting to expose the problem’.

“The problem has been exposed alright, and it is Damien O’Connor.

“He is so intent on denying everything that he is not talking to his staff, and that is contributing further to this shambles.

“This is the third time in less than two months that he and Barry Matthews have disagreed publicly. The first was over an investigation into corruption by guards at Rotorua District Court, and the other over changes to the Parole Act.

“For the sake of public safety, it is time they got their act together.”

Mr Power says the confusion has even gone as far as prisoners turning up to see a probation officer who had no idea who they were or why they were there.

“This revelation by Barry Matthews is most disturbing, and even though he claims to have plugged that gap, it is a further indication of the systemic problems dogging this department.”

ENDS

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