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Incompetent Serco Left to Run when Death Occurred

Mahesh Bindra MP
Spokesperson for Corrections

Incompetent Serco Left to Run Prison Overnight When Death Occurred

The government claims to be running Mt Eden prison - they are not, says New Zealand First.

“In the critical evening hours they were not there and another death in custody occurred,” says New Zealand First Corrections Spokesperson Mahesh Bindra.

“This death happened in very lax circumstances, which was the reason Corrections had taken over operations in the first place.

“Serco was responsible for the prison overnight on Wednesday when the death occurred. It did not have enough staff - they were ill-equipped, inadequately trained and unaware of proper procedures when the death occurred.

“New Zealand First has warned the Government time and again that Serco-run prisons are a ticking time bomb - we specifically asked Minister of Corrections Sam Lotu Iga how many more mishaps and incidents there would need to be.

“We have been so concerned about the government’s lack of action on Serco, we told Parliament we feared there might be another death in custody. Now this has happened.

“The Minister must immediately reveal what emergency action and measures the government is taking to deal with Serco’s disaster,” says Mr Bindra.

ENDS

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