The Government should focus on addressing social issues rather than putting more beds in prisons in a bid to tackle crime, Te Tai Tokerau MP Kelvin Davis says.
The Labour MP and party Corrections spokesman made the comment while responding to an announcement by Corrections' Minister Judith Collins this week on plans to increase prison capacity by adding about 1800 beds at a cost of about $1 billion.
The plan includes an increase in double bunking in the Northland Region Corrections' Facility - Ngawha Prison - by 80 beds.
Despite a significant progress in reducing crime, Ms Collins said the number of prisoners in all prisons had increased faster than expected.
More people were being remanded in custody and serving more of their sentences in prison because the proportion of offenders charged with serious crimes had risen.
The government, she said, has to respond through new investment otherwise it would create unacceptable safety risks for staff, prisoners and the public, and be less effective at rehabilitating prisoners.
But Mr Davis said more prison beds would not make society safer.
"Rehabilitation programmes in prison are not working so the government has to change that. Prisoners' needs are not being met and that's why many are not able to cope when they come out," he said.
Mr Davis said the government needed to be smart rather than tough on crime.
"But the key thing is to look at the drivers of crime. Things like poverty, homelessness, education, housing and mental health issues, which have not been addressed in recent years," he said.
Mr Davis said sending more people to jail meant an increase in assaults, suicide, and prison riots as prisoners were crammed into limited spaces.
Corrections' Association vice-president, Paul Dennehy, said his organisation would work with the government to ensure the safety and well-being of prisoners and prison officers were met.
"We've (association) always advocated that prisoners are better managed through a public prison service and we're going to work with Corrections in dealing with and containing prisoners."
He lauded the various rehabilitation programmes Corrections had put in place for prisoners.