KEY POINTS:
North Shore teenager Liam Ashley was murdered while in a prisoner transport system condemned in an Ombudsman's report as being frequently inhumane.
Prisoners did not cease to be human beings because they were jailed and must be treated humanely, the report said.
Ashley, 17, was choked and battered
in the back of a prison van in August last year. His death and other reports of appalling conditions in prison vans prompted the report by Chief Ombudsman John Belgrave and Ombudsman Mel Smith, made public yesterday.
The Department of Corrections faces a bill of up to $30 million to implement the recommendations of Mr Smith.
Last night Corrections chief executive Barry Matthews said the department was working on implementing many of the recommendations, but they would come at a large cost.
"It could be $20 million or as high as $30 million if you include all the things that the ombudsmen recommended," he said.
"It may not be possible to do all those recommendations but we will certainly aim to meet the test of safe, secure and humane travel for prisoners."
Prisoners told investigators they had been treated worse than animals, chucked around like pieces of dirt, and would have been "stuffed" if the van transporting them had crashed.
"In the light of the transport conditions we have found, we find no reason to believe that they were exaggerating their feelings," the report said.
It said the Department of Corrections failed in its fundamental responsibility to keep Liam Ashley safe. The state had a duty of care towards prisoners, and any failure to comply exposed Corrections and the Crown to legal action.
"The report stands for itself," Mr Smith said yesterday.
"If you look at those photographs and ask, was putting human beings in there humane or inhumane? ... I think most people would say that was just not humane."
Mr Belgrave said the main issues were the lack of communication between prisoners and escort officers, and the lack of adequate surveillance of prisoners by officers.
"That in my view is a fundamental precept. If that was put right then a number of issues would flow from it, but it isn't right at the moment.
"You go to prison for punishment, not to be punished. Whether you are a prison inmate or the average citizen walking down Lambton Quay you are entitled, if you are in the care of the state, to certain basic conditions of incarceration."
Corrections was strongly criticised in the report.
"Throughout this investigation, we were saddened to find a theme of lack of communication between national office and frontline staff, which has resulted in numerous different practices developing at the frontline," it said.
Mr Matthews said several of the report's recommendations were being addressed. He was confident the department would deal with the remaining issues.
"Of course we do aim to keep prisoners in a safe and humane way, whether they are in prison or taking them through to court or wherever," he said.
"We need to take into account addressing public safety, staff safety and then also the safety of prisoners.
"Those things are not necessarily all aligned. I'm not prepared to put the public at risk because of making it easier for prisoners."
The report criticised the performance security firm Chubb, which is contracted by Corrections to transport prisoners, in several areas.
Chubb was told its practice of handcuffing all prisoners was wrong.
Chubb also ignored provisions on permitted driver hours and maintenance of driver logbooks, a "significant breach" which would be reported to Land Transport NZ, the report said.
Chubb chief executive Tom Nickels said the company had permission from Corrections to handcuff prisoners, but would address the issue with the department immediately.
The prisoner transport contract between Chubb and Corrections runs until 2009.
Overseas, Chubb is quitting the guarding business, selling security companies in Britain and Australia.
Mr Nickels said Chubb New Zealand would carry out its existing contracts until it was handed over to a purchaser as a going concern.
Recommendations:
* Prisoner transport vehicles be designed or adapted so escort staff can observe all prisoner cages.
* Corrections to set achievable standards, and ensure Chubb complies.
* Corrections to seek advice about adding seatbelts to prison vans.
* Seat squabs to be in vans so officers have a good view of prisoners.
* Adequate food and water, toilet and exercise breaks to be provided on long trips.
* All vehicles to be equipped with temperature controls.
* Policies and procedures to be developed for emergency situations.
* Clear guidelines on handcuffing prisoners to be set out.
- with NZPA