Simon Power MP
National Party Justice & Corrections Spokesman

15 September 2008

Another prisoner taken on a private visit

Corrections Minister Phil Goff has further explaining to do after another prisoner was driven for a visit to a private address while outside prison gates, says National's Justice & Corrections spokesman, Simon Power.

He is releasing an answer to a parliamentary question that shows a prison guard drove a prisoner to visit his partner in Petone while he was being transported from Wellington Hospital to Rimutaka Prison.

"This is yet another embarrassing blunder by Corrections.

"Earlier this month, Phil Goff was forced to admit that four prisoners at Hawke's Bay Prison were allowed to visit private addresses to drink alcohol, and one to see his girlfriend, while they were supposed to be on a release-to-work programme.

"And now we have this incident.

"This is not good enough, and Phil Goff has more explaining to do.

"He needs to reassure the public that this sort of occurrence is not rife throughout the prison system - although after yet another incident, such assurances seem less and less likely.

"Perhaps he should stick to sorting out these problems in Corrections before wading into the Justice portfolio that he was moved on from three years ago."

ENDS

© Scoop Media