All temporary prison releases suspended - Corrections

A police photograph of Phillip John Smith soon after he was was arrested for killing the father of a boy he had been abusing. Photo / Supplied

All temporary releases for prisoners will be suspended in the wake of convicted murderer Phillip John Smith escaping while on release, Corrections says.

Corrections Chief Executive Ray Smith announced this afternoon that temporary releases from prison of prisoners will be suspended, for at least the next fortnight.

"Only in exceptional circumstances will these be allowed during this period and only then on approval by one of our four Regional Commissioners, our most senior operational officers," Mr Smith said.

"This follows the unauthorised departure from New Zealand of high profile prisoner Phillip Smith who had been under the supervision of a sponsor while on a temporary release from Spring Hill Prison.

"This is a very serious incident. It should never have happened and I want to reassure the public that we are taking steps to understand how this occurred to prevent it happening again.

"The decision to stop temporary release of prisoners will be in force for at least the next two weeks, while we complete a comprehensive review of our processes and look at where we need to tighten our policies."

Mr Smith said Release to Work prisoners would be excluded from the bank, and those released to supervised programmes.

Prisoners with special circumstances such as a bereavement could still have escorted temporary removal.

"Corrections' Chief Custodial Officer arrived at Spring Hill Prison today to begin the investigation into the circumstances that allowed Mr Smith's breach of custody," Mr Smith said.

"We are also working closely with the Police to help ensure this prisoner's return to New Zealand."

In a rare move, the Parole Board issued a statement this afternoon saying it did not recommend Smith be given temporary leave.

"The board in its decisions about Mr Smith?consistently identified that Phillip Smith posed a significant risk to the community," said New Zealand Parole Board chairman Justice Warwick Gendall, QC, said.

"While it supported the position for very cautious and slow steps for reintegration - as and when the Department of Corrections consider appropriate - this is a sentence management decision for the department," he said.

"Media reports stating that Phillip Smith's home leaves were granted because of Parole Board recommendations are incorrect," Justice Gendall said.