Corrections Fails to Ensure Community Safety

New Zealand First has questioned how 43 criminal offenders managed to destroy monitoring devices and escape security surveillance by the Corrections Department within one year.

Corrections spokesperson Asenati Lole-Taylor says the security around offenders is becoming a joke with reports nearly every week of someone escaping from custody or destroying a monitoring device.

“It’s time to get tough with these people and the Corrections Department needs to take a hard look at how its systems are operating.

“It is potentially dangerous for communities and the department needs to be accountable for ensuring public safety.

“The Government needs to enhance security surveillance and avoid any potential for offenders to escape prison or community services sentences.

“We say that any offender who escapes from custody or destroys a monitoring device should serve a minimum prison sentence – and be denied the soft option of home detention,” says Mrs Lole Taylor.

ENDS

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