Corrections must look to private sector

National’s Law and Order spokesman, Simon Power, says the Labour Government is running a seriously stretched prison system and is almost out of options to fix it.

“The department’s own post-election brief indicates that the Government is going to have to look outside the square to fix the problem,” says Mr Power.

The brief says: ‘The Output Pricing Review demonstrated that the Department of Corrections has few strategic options for reprioritisation that do not significantly erode its capability, create unacceptable levels of risk, or have an adverse impact on outputs.’

“It’s time Labour swallowed its own ideological burp and allowed the private sector to become involved in prison services.

“The public won’t accept a reduction in custodial sentences, so the Government must look at other options.

“We simply cannot continue to have prisoners being kept in vans on streets and showering in rugby clubs because of overcrowding. Right now our prison system is a sick joke.

“The Clark/Peters Government should pilfer another one of National’s policies and seek to involve the private sector in new prison developments,” says Mr Power.

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