KEY POINTS:
A crackdown on contraband in prisons has been welcomed by political parties, but they say the Government waited too long before deciding there was a problem.
Corrections Minister Damien O'Connor said today he was going to introduce legislation to combat contraband smuggling, creating new a new offence and giving prison staff stronger search powers.
He said the Government had succeeded in reducing drug use in prisons but smuggling them in was still a problem and the use of banned cellphones was rising.
Opposition parties have been complaining for months about contraband and National's corrections spokesman Simon Power said Mr O'Connor had previously refused to even acknowledge that a problem existed.
"This is a U-turn that has come far too late," he said.
New Zealand First's Corrections spokesman Ron Mark welcomed the announcement but said Mr O'Connor should take a hard look at the quality of the advice he was receiving.
"These measures could, and should, have been introduced a long time ago," he said.
United Future leader Peter Dunne said he was pleased the Government was finally cracking down but he was worried that the root cause of the drug culture was being overlooked.
"It is well known that the majority of inmates in New Zealand prisons have a drug or alcohol addiction and yet only 4 per cent of those with an addiction are provided with specialist treatment services," he said.
"It seems the Government chooses to ignore this issue."
Mr O'Connor said the Corrections Amendment Bill he intended bringing to Parliament would include:
* A new criminal offence for non-prisoners possessing drugs, mobile communication devices, or weapons in prisons without permission;
* Giving prison staff greater search powers;
* Making it an offence for an inmate to possess or use an unauthorised electronic device in a prison, punishable by up to three months in prison and a $5000 fine; and
* Extending existing provisions so that Corrections Department staff who pass contraband to prisoners outside the prison are also punishable by up to a year's prison and a $5000 fine.
- NZPA
