40 women prisoners throw men off guard

Male prisoners are upset by the arrival of women on their block at Mt Eden. The 40 female prisoners have been transferred to the male prison because of overcrowding and have taken over jobs in the laundry.

As well as losing pay for work in the laundry, the men are being shunted between court cells, police cells and the prison because of bed shortages.

There was also concern after a woman prisoner became pregnant to a male inmate under similar circumstances last year, the partner of a prisoner told the Herald.

"They are upset because it was late notice and everything had to change to be up to scratch for the women. They have got everything over the men."

The Department of Corrections said the situation was "not ideal" but there had been a "higher than forecast" number of women prisoners.

Harry Hawthorn, the acting general manager of the Public Prisons Service, said contact between male and female prisoners was not permitted.

The department would not comment on the claim that a female prisoner became pregnant last year.

Mr Hawthorn said there was no opportunity for male and female prisoners to interact.

He said the men had not been compensated for losing the 40c an hour they were paid for the laundry jobs.