Simon Power MP National Party Law & Order Spokesman
28 August 2006

National welcomes Ombudsman's probe

National Party Law and Order spokesman Simon Power has welcomed the Ombudsman's decision to conduct an independent inquiry after the death of an Auckland teenager in the back of a prison van last week.

Mr Power called on Saturday for 'a proper independent inquiry with full terms of reference, that gets answers to the tough questions and holds to account those found to be responsible'. "It was important that this inquiry was seen to be independent of the Corrections Department, and I am pleased John Belgrave has made the call to conduct his own investigation into the current practices and procedures regarding the transport of prisoners," says Mr Power.

ENDS