Jail guard accused of smuggling

A female guard from Spring Hill prison near Meremere has been arrested and charged with drug smuggling.

The officer was stood down from duty last month while police investigated evidence uncovered in an ongoing Department of Corrections operation.

Yesterday, department chief executive Barry Matthews confirmed the guard had been charged under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

"As this matter will ultimately come before the courts I am not able to go into any further specific detail," he said.

"But this arrest should send a very clear and strong message that corrupt and illegal behaviour will not be tolerated in our prisons."

Mr Matthews said the department was actively monitoring staff suspected of corrupt behaviour. He condemned the small group of employees taking part in illegal activity.

The arrest follows that of a second staff member at Rimutaka Prison in Wellington for drug smuggling last month, after senior manager Jeffrey Mark Reid, 43, was arrested and charged with selling cannabis to inmates in June.