Male jail next to women 'cruel and insensitive'

File photo / NZ Herald

Concerns that inmates of the Wiri women's prison will suffer psychological effects if they hear and see the inmates at a men's prison proposed next door were raised at a board of inquiry hearing in South Auckland.

The Corrections Department wants planning permission for a 1060-man prison on some of the land used by the Auckland Region Women's Correction Facility, which can accommodate 456 prisoners.

Prison visitor Sister Anne Hurley, of Sisters of Mercy, Wiri, had expressed concern about the effect the proximity of a men's prison would have on women inmates.

Developing a significant men's prison adjacent to the women's prison was "cruel and insensitive," particularly when that land was cited as being necessary for a women's prison.

Her point was taken up by consultant Dianne Buchan, who was asked by the Environmental Protection Authority to review Correction's social impact assessment.

Ms Buchan said many inmates at the women's prison had been subjected to violence and other forms of abuse from men.

"From this, I consider it is worth considering the impact on the psychological wellbeing of the inmates having up to 1500 men - many of whom are likely to be of violent disposition - directly across the fence from them.

"While these prisoners will be hidden from view by a 6m high fence, the voices are likely to be clearly heard during the day when they are outside the cells."

Another concern was the psychological effect on women prisoners of the men's prison obscuring mountain and harbour views.

Ms Buchan said the low security area of the women's prison looked across a wide green space to the mountain.

A new policy to allow inmates to keep those children under two years in their care meant the mothers and children unit would be close to the men's boundary and the view would be a 6m high wall.

This did not provide a positive environment for developing children.

Corrections acknowledged that possible effects on women prisoners were not identified in its original social impact assessment.

But yesterday Corrections lawyer Kerry Anderson said expert witnesses said there would be no psychological effect on women inmate from a men's prison.

A number of proposed conditions for the redesignation were revised in light of submissions and exchange of evidence before the hearing.

A new condition was added to "prevent visibility" between male and female prisoners and a noise limit would also be imposed to prevent the sound of male prisoners being heard next door.

Correction's expert witness Jeanette Burns said prison officers would actively manage "adverse behaviour such as shouting".

One submission said the land being taken from the women's prison was intended to be for its inmates' employment and training, with a shade house and glass house.

Another complained: "A four-storey men's prison would be a negative and dominating influence. It would nullify the culture and theme of the women's prison."

Corrections said it had an improved suite of conditions to deal with social impact concerns, including the building obscuring views and its closeness to the women's boundary.

Kerry Anderson said the land taken was not needed for the women's prison built in 2006 and its operations would not be affected.

"Removal of this land will not impact on success of rehabilitation and reintegration programmes run at the women's prison."

The project was a public private partnership for design, build and operation.

The hearing resumes on Thursday.