Another day, another appalling systems failure

National Party Justice and Corrections spokesman Simon Power says he is alarmed by reports of an “appalling systems breakdown” which implicates both Corrections and the Justice Ministry.

“If the reports are correct, both these departments need to hang their heads in shame over this latest debacle. Ministers Mark Burton and Damien O’Connor should lead the way.”

Mr Power is referring to allegations that a convicted stalker was not only able to get the Justice Department to process a request for crime scene photographs, but then Corrections let the disturbing mail in, and out, of the prison.

“This is despite a specific promise to closely supervise this man’s mail.

“But the problems don’t just lie with Corrections. Questions also need to be asked of the Justice Ministry which appears to have processed the Official Information Act request.

“You’d think when they were popping the photos in an envelope and sending it to a prison address someone would ask a couple of questions first.

“The public do have a right to know whether it is possible for a person with such an alleged offending history to request, receive and resend this type of material all under the watchful eye of two Government departments.

“And if the allegations are indeed correct, have two Government departments helped to facilitate this person’s continued offending behind bars?”

Ends

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