The Corrections Association of New Zealand (CANZ) is concerned at an alarming increase of incidents within prisons.

CANZ National President, Beven Hanlon, said that a comparative study of Mt. Eden prison incidents from 1st March to 19th June 2002 and 2005 showed there are genuine reasons to be concerned. For example, there were 2 suicide attempts/self harm incidents in 2002 but there had been 7 in 2005. Inmate assaults on staff had leapt from 2 in 2002 to 5 in 2005 and no escapes in 2002 and 4 inmate escapes 2005.

Beven Hanlon said the year 2002 was chosen because that year the Union had proposed an emergency protocol for dealing with future overcrowding, but the initiative was rejected by the Department of Corrections because they said their scoping exercises indicated there would be no overcrowding problems in the future.

CANZ and the Department of Corrections attended a mediated hearing in Auckland yesterday over Union claims that Inmate Operating Capacities at Mt. Eden have been exceeded. The mediation was adjourned, and the Union will seek compliance at the Employment Relations Authority in about 2 weeks time.

This media release has been authorized by Beven Hanlon
National President of the Corrections Association of New Zealand
Mob. 0274 380 442
Email: bjandbev@xtra.co.nz