Police hire security firms to guard cells

By NICOLA BOYES

Police at stations nationwide have been told to employ security guards to watch inmates filling their cells, in a bid to free up stretched frontline staff.

The Police Commissioner's Office sent a directive to stations this week telling them to use security guards as needed to look after cells full with inmates who cannot get a bed in jail.

Office spokesman Jon Neilson said the directive was given so police could get on with providing normal services to the public.

But officers spoken to yesterday said it was not taking the pressure off because they had to supervise the security guards.

With prisons across the country almost full, remand and sentenced prisoners are being held in police cells until the Corrections Department can find beds for them.

The cost is being borne by the department, with police charging $190 a night for each inmate.

The department could not say how much it had paid police so far.

Police and the department signed a memorandum of understanding in July 2001 recognising the importance of police cells for the periodic management of remand and sentenced inmates.

Corrections then struck a deal with regional police stations on the number of inmates they could handle - 97 nationally - but senior sergeants spoken to yesterday said the present numbers were more than what was expected.

Senior Sergeant Paul Kitney, from the Commissioner's Office, who has been liaising with the department, said stations were being asked to keep records of the number of inmates in cells. There was a "cost-recovery system in place".

He said police had an understanding with Corrections, but "the trouble is, of course, that unfortunately that doesn't always go to plan and those numbers can be exceeded".

"In this situation there's been a little bit of a difficulty with trying to cope with the numbers."

In Rotorua, 30 men, three women and a transsexual had to be held in cells over the weekend because there was no room for them at Waikeria Prison.

Last night, Rotorua police expected to have about seven prisoners.

Senior Sergeant Dave Donaldson said Rotorua officers had been using Armourguard to help them in the cells, but the security guards had to be supervised as well.

"We've given them the proper training in the management of at-risk prisoners but they still don't know the full ins and outs."

He described the training as a "two-hour lecture".

In Whangarei, civilians deemed temporary sworn constables were being called in to help look after nine inmates who had been in police cells for between three to four days.

Sergeant Graham Povey said he discovered yesterday that one inmate had not showered for three days - he then had to wait for fresh towels to arrive at the station.

"It puts pressure on our guys."

In Auckland, Chubb security staff have been helping police who had 14 inmates over the weekend and 11 yesterday.

Auckland City area commander Inspector Brett England said that while Chubb helped out, officers still had total responsibility for inmates.

On top of prison inmates, police cells are also being used to house youths because of a shortage of beds in Child Youth and Family facilities.