Jail smugglers caught with drugs and porn

More than 200 people - an average of one per week - have been banned from visiting Northland's prison after they tried to smuggle contraband into the jail.
The bans have been implemented since the prison opened three years ago.
There has also been 16 arrests related to contraband, since the prison opened.
The latest was on Friday when a visitor to the jail was allegedly seen passing a package to a prisoner in a visiting room. The visitor was arrested and charged with supplying cannabis.
Early last month the Corrections Department revealed it had caught two people in one day trying to bring illicit drugs into the Northland Regional Corrections Facility - Ngawha Prison - just east of Kaikohe.
"Stopping contraband entering prisons, and apprehending those who do bring it to prisons, is one of Correction's highest priorities," Ngawha Prison acting manager Peter Phelan said.
"In the last five years we have implemented a number of security measures, including electronic security devices and cameras, closed circuit TV, video motion detectors and microwave sensors."
Mr Phelan said checkpoints were regularly set up outside the prison to screen visitors and staff.
He said cannabis was still the most common drug people tried to bring into the prison, but there had been an upsurge in people trying to smuggle in methamphetamine.
"The reason for that is that the quantity of P involved is much smaller and easier to conceal than, say, cannabis," Mr Phelan said.
The Northern Advocate requested details on the types and amounts of drugs seized through visitor checks since the jail opened in March 2005 under the Official Information Act.
Department manager of executive services David Belchamber said prison staff were often confronted by prisoners and their associates who were innovative in their attempts to smuggle contraband into and out of prisons.
"To assist in the detection of contraband, a number of systems and processes have been implemented. This includes the use of camera surveillance in prison visitor areas, random drug testing, and metal detectors," Mr Belchamber said.
"Prison checkpoints are also set up outside prisons to screen visitors and staff. They routinely involve drug dogs."
Since the jail opened Ngawha staff had carried out an estimated 190 prison checkpoint operations. As a result there had been 212 visitor exclusion notices issued and 15 arrests made.
However, there was no recording system to document contraband seizures, so consistent and accurate figures are not readily available.
As well as the visitor checks, prisoners may also be searched after visits, particularly if they are suspected of receiving items from visitors.
Routine searches of prison cells and prisoners are also carried out.
"Searches are frequent, but irregular, in order to prevent prisoners anticipating when they are to occur," Mr Belchamber said.
"Searches may also be undertaken at any time if there are reasonable grounds to suspect that contraband may have been brought into the prison."
• Contraband is defined as an unauthorised item in prison.
While a large proportion of contraband entering New Zealand Prisons is illegal drugs, it also includes cellphones, money, food, pornographic magazines, tobacco and other objectionable material.