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More rot found in prison system
Simon Power MP
National Party Justice and Corrections
Spokesman
14 July 2007
More rot found in prison system
News that yet another prison officer has been suspended for alleged corruption is a further wakeup call for a Government that has been in denial over this problem, says National’s Justice and Corrections spokesman, Simon Power.
A Christchurch Men’s Prison officer was suspended this week, amid allegations he was involved in helping smuggle contraband into the prison.
“This is the fifth guard from Paparua prison to be either dismissed or suspended this year, and Labour is still furiously denying there is a problem.
“At least a dozen other prison staff have been investigated for claims of corruption.
“For months Corrections Minister Damien O’Connor and CEO Barry Mathews have been denying that corruption is widespread in New Zealand prisons. What more proof do they need?
“On February 19, Barry Mathews said there were ‘a few bad apples’, and ‘We’re talking probably about five in the whole organisation’. And on April 17 he said, ‘I think it would be foolish to say that some staff haven’t brought any of this {contraband} in, but I don’t believe it’s more than a minority of staff.’
“Labour refused to acknowledge the any problems existed until they were brought to their attention.
“They need to explain why it took so long to act.”
ends
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