Corrections fires 21 prison officers for misconduct

The Department of Corrections faces renewed pressure after it was revealed 21 prison officers have lost their jobs over the past two years for misconduct, including criminal activity.

The revelation comes days after National Party law and order spokesman Simon Power called for a parliamentary inquiry into the department following the disclosure of budget blow outs for two new prisons.

Figures supplied under the Official Information Act to the Christchurch Press show 352 officers were stood down in the past three years while misconduct investigations were carried out.

Public Prisons Service general manager Phil McCarthy told the newspaper 12 officers had lost their jobs between January and November last year and nine over the same period in 2004.

Staff had lost their jobs for external criminal charges, failing to obey a legitimate instruction, not reporting for duty, inappropriate behaviour, taking a prohibited item into prison and dishonesty, Mr McCarthy said.

The Corrections Association - the prison officers' union - said the number of staff sacked was low for the amount of investigations.

Association president Beven Hanlon said officers had lost their jobs for criminal charges relating to fights outside work and taking items such as cellphones and money into prisons.

Mr Hanlon said prison officers were investigated all the time and that inmates were able to join forces and concoct stories that appeared to be consistent to attack staff.

Mr Power said he wanted a select committee inquiry to cover the cost of the new prisons and:

* The prison overcrowding problem that is predicted to continue to 2011.

* A rash of escapes and assaults on guards.

* Security and design flaws at Christchurch Men's Prison and Ngawha.

* A big increase in smuggling contraband into prisons.

Corrections Minister Damien O'Connor revealed last week two new prisons were $140 million over estimate.

Springhill Prison in North Waikato cost $380.3 million, which was $97.7 million over estimate, and Otago's new prison being built at Milton is costing $217.9 million, $43.1 million more than the department's forecast.

Mr O'Connor has called inthe Treasury and State Services Commission to do an independent review.

- NZPA