Corrections Department denies claims of abuse at Paremoremo

The Corrections Department today denied claims of prisoner abuse by officers at Auckland's maximum security prison Paremoremo.

Lawyer Tony Ellis is calling for a commission of inquiry after a prisoner claimed he and others were badly beaten by officers at Paremoremo following a riot in 1998.

The unnamed prisoner sent Mr Ellis a tape last month in which he claimed he was beaten and kicked by guards.

He also said he was humiliated by officers who dragged him around by his underpants and photographed him with other prisoners who were also only dressed in underpants.

He was transported by prison van to another detention centre, the prisoner said.

Mr Ellis said today he spoken to another inmate who had seen the man's injuries and a 1998 inspector's report verified a prisoner was taken naked across the city in the prison van.

The prisoners believed there had been a cover-up of the incident, Mr Ellis said.

Although following the riot an inspector ruled officers used justified methods, there should have been an independent inquiry, he said.

The prisoner also claimed officers had broken his hands by stamping on them and that he was kept in solitary confinement for too long.

Corrections Department spokesman Phil McCarthy said today the allegations were a "beat up".

"By-and-large these allegations were investigated at the time," he told National Radio.

Two officers at Paremoremo had been stabbed and almost killed in two months before the riot in which 68 inmates caused $1 million of damage to the prison, Mr McCarthy said.

"It was the one major riot we have had in this country for the past 10 years.

"I am incredibly proud of the way our staff put that down. There was a very dangerous riot happening, a violent group of inmates, and that riot was quelled without any significant injuries to either staff or inmates."

There were a few sprained wrists which occurred while inmates were being forcibly moved, he said.

It was common to move prisoners to another prison in the aftermath of a riot while the situation was diffused.

"I could imagine while people would be moved in their underpants because (the officers) would have wanted to be very sure there weren't weapons being concealed in clothing."

The department did not tolerate abuse of inmates under any circumstances and had no problem with a "searchlight" being put on the 1998 incidents, Mr McCarthy said.

"Any time abuse is alleged by inmates we refer those allegations to police."

In the past nine months three officers had been dismissed because of mistreatment of inmates and six or seven others disciplined, he said.

The Government is introducing new laws to make it more difficult for prisoners to claim compensation after five criminals were recently awarded $130,000 for mistreatment in solitary confinement.

Mr Ellis represented the five inmates and has said there are another 200 claims in the pipeline.

Justice Minister Phil Goff has called for prison procedures to be tightened so that there are no more breaches of rules covering the treatment of inmates.

- NZPA