Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Corrections Statement

Corrections Statment

24 July 2015
Ray Smith, Chief Executive, Department of Corrections

Last night I signalled that I was taking legal advice and considering all of my options available in the contract with Serco following a week of serious allegations involving their management of the Mount Eden Corrections Facility.

I now need to act in the interests of the safety of the staff and prisoners presently in MECF. Secondly, I need to ensure that the Chief Inspector of Corrections can complete his investigation into these allegations. He is undertaking this investigation alongside the Ombudsman who is providing independent oversight.

This morning I met Corrections Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga and following this meeting the decision was made to invoke the “Step In” clause in the contract Corrections have with Serco.

This allows me to place a Corrections Department Prison Director and management team into the prison to oversee its day to day running while keeping Serco’s staff on site.

Serco has been informed that I will begin this process on Monday.

I will determine how long the “Stepping In” process will continue for.

In the meantime financial charges may be imposed in respect of the issues that have surfaced over the last week. These are likely to be substantial.

There are also other options potentially available to me under the contract. These include a Final Warning and Early Termination of the contract. I have not taken these options at this stage and will wait the outcome of the Chief Inspector’s review and consider its findings before proceeding further.

The ten year contract allows a review after six years and this process of review had actually begun a couple of months ago.

ENDS

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines



Gordon Campbell: On Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... More

ALSO:

Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.