16 July 2015

SERCO’s fight club proof of failure

News of a fight club organised by gang members at Mt Eden shows once again that SERCO should never have been allowed to run prisons in New Zealand, Labour’s Justice spokesperson Jacinda Arden says.

“Just a few weeks ago, Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga was telling a select committee that SERCO oversight and management of Mt Eden prison was ‘of the very highest level.’

“Now we see an organised fight club in one of the Government’s supposedly flagship prisons. The fact that this has been able to go on for so long and with such organisation is horrifying.

“The public will be astounded to see the lack of intervention, but it shouldn’t come as a surprise. SERCO are understaffing Mt Eden, making it dangerous for both staff, and prisoners. We’ve been raising this point for well over a year and with no response from the Minister.”

“We shouldn’t even be in this position. Overseas experience shows these companies will understaff their prisons to save money, leading to exactly this type of organised violence.

“An investigation by SERCO will not stop the string of incidents happening at Mt Eden. Getting rid of SERCO will.” says Jacinda Ardern.

ends