Tony Ryall National Corrections Spokesman

6 November 2002

National wants assurance on prison break-out

The public has every right to be outraged by the escape of one of New Zealand's most dangerous criminals from Paparua Prison near Christchurch.

Mark Taylor was serving a sentence of preventive detention, the heaviest sentence the court can impose, when he made his getaway by hiding in a service vehicle.

"It's outrageous that a man who forced his way into a 56 year old's home while she was asleep and raped her is now on the loose," says National's Corrections spokesman Tony Ryall.

"I want to be assured there's been no slip up in security at Paparua Prison.

"Taylor's is the first successful escape from that Prison in the past three years and I'd like to think he'll be the last.

"But of course he won't be, the Corrections Department says 26 people escaped from jails last year, as they fight to stay within ever tightening budgets and a growing prison population," Mr Ryall says.

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