Simon Power MP
National Party Justice & Corrections Spokesman

18 February 2007

Corrections learns nothing from Ashley tragedy

The Government is making no effort to overhaul the systemic failures in the Corrections Department, says National’s Justice & Corrections spokesman, Simon Power.

He is commenting after police said they were investigating the alleged rape in Waikeria Prison of a prisoner convicted of credit card fraud by a gang member convicted of two rapes, aggravated robbery, threatening to kill and assault – after they were put in the same cell.

“How can this happen after all we have been through with the Liam Ashley tragedy?

“Hasn’t this department learnt anything from that?

"This low-level prisoner should never have been put in the same cell as someone who is apparently very violent, who has spent most of his adult life in prison, and who has a high-medium security rating.

“After the Ashley tragedy you would have thought they would have taken steps to ensure there was no chance of similar incidents happening.

“This Government and this department are interested only in covering their own backsides by hiding behind reports.

“They think that as long as they have called for a report then they have done enough.

“Corrections Minister Damien O’Connor’s only response to this incident will be to call for another report and to do nothing till it is completed.

‘But it is not enough.

“Yet again, Corrections have come up short.

“They have become a public joke under Damien O'Connor’s watch. He must stand up and take responsibility.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media