Act backs private prisons

Private prisons would solve the overcrowding crisis, the Act Party said today.

Problems with housing prisoners have been reported this week, and there have been admissions some were held in police vans and others sent to a rugby club for a shower.

"Private prisons are the only answer to the ongoing crisis of prison overcrowding," ACT's national security spokeswoman Heather Roy said.

"There is no good reason why private prisons were abandoned."

The Government changed the law which allowed private prisons and the only one that existed, Auckland Central Remand, was handed back.

New Zealand First, which has signed a support agreement with the new government, has suggested sending prisoners to military bases but Ms Roy took issue with that.

"This is a problem for the corrections department, not the military," she said.

"Private prisons should be reinstituted and defence force staff left to focus on their core function."

Ms Roy said NZ First should use its influence with the Government and urge a policy reversal.

- NZPA