KEY POINTS:
Opposition MPs have jumped on Corrections chief Barry Matthews' concession that corruption in prisons may be more widespread than first thought.
They are also continuing to put the heat on the Government with plans to look at a select committee inquiry into the Department of Corrections.
The department
has been beset by controversies recently - including convicted killer Graeme Burton being released on parole and going on to murder Karl Kuchenbecker, allegations prison officers received cash for smuggling cellphones and other contraband to inmates, and prison officers allowing a convicted rapist a conjugal visit with his girlfriend.
National Party justice and corrections spokesman Simon Power asked in Parliament yesterday how Corrections Minister Damien O'Connor could continue to downplay problems in light of Mr Matthews' comments, reported in the Herald yesterday.
Mr Matthews said that jail bosses had been told to "sniff around" for signs of corruption and that other prisons were being looked for similar problems revealed at Rimutaka.
Nine officers at Rimutaka and two at Christchurch have been suspended after corruption or contraband allegations.
Mr Matthews said Rimutaka had a big problem and it could be more widespread.
Mr O'Connor said he stood by his statement that corruption was not widespread.
"Any accusations of corruption are a big problem and we treat them very seriously," he said.
"We have an investigation under way at Rimutaka, we have stood down some prison officers, we will continue to take such action wherever we have indications of such inappropriate behaviour."
He said it was important that honest staff were not tarred by the behaviour of a few.
Mr O'Connor said there was immediate action on corruption claims, an internal investigating team was set up and there were eight new corrections intelligence-gathering units as part of a new crime prevention information capability.
NZ First MP Ron Mark holds the deciding vote on the law and order select committee which has said it would consider at its meeting on May 23 whether to hold a "wide-ranging inquiry" into the department and some of its activities. He welcomed Mr Matthews' comments and said NZ First had believed for some time corruption was more widespread.
"A clear message must be sent to those in Corrections that corruption will not be tolerated."
He said officers who acted corruptly had to be prosecuted to send a message.
"As a further step the Government must ensure that any corruption, collusion or incompetence by management which has ignored or attempted to hide the problem must be dealt with swiftly and effectively."
This month Prime Minister Helen Clark announced a wide-ranging review of the justice system as well as outlining specific changes to parole and other areas. That followed several one-on-one meetings she held with Mr Mark and appeared to be an effort to secure his support to avoid the select committee inquiry.
Meanwhile the Corrections head office is being restructured with the promise of no job losses.
- NZPA
