Howard League Comments

13 December

 

Hello all,

 

I have received lots of emails from staff outlining their disgust at the comments made by the Howard League.

 

Below is an extract from an email I sent to a senior PPS manager the day the Howard League made comments on both the TV and Radio. These were to the effect that PPS staff just stand back and let the prisoners stab and beat each other.

 

Email Extract

 

I may have breached the media ban imposed on me by the CEO.

 

I could not stand by and have the Howard league make up lies etc and wait for the response from PPS. In the past PPS have just sat back and let it run it course.

 

CANZ cannot stand by and let that happen.

 

I have just pointed out that Corrections Officers work in a very dangerous environment with people that the public don’t like. We go out of our way to protect these people and an example of this was when a female staff member was stabbed at Rimutaka prison earlier this year saving the life of a prisoner that was being stabbed by about 4 other prisoners.

 

Corrections officers risk their lives every day protecting the people that the public don’t want.

 

It seems that email was a little pre-emptive. Bryan McMurray did a lot of work on all forms of media supporting the great work of the staff on the day. It must also be said that the New Minister of Corrections also came out in support of you all.

 

In fact they managed to get onto most forms of the media and the only comment I saw from CANZ was, one line in the Dompost at the end of a story.  We cannot control what the media put out but it is great to see our senior managers sticking up for us.

 

Merry Christmas and may you and your families have a safe and happy holiday.

 

Beven Hanlon

CANZ National President