The $14.5 million facility replaces Rotorua's ageing 1960s cell-block, which is considered among the worst in the country for risk to prisoners and police staff.
A man recently committed suicide in the old block _ something police hope will be avoided in the new facility. "It shouldn't happen in this facility because it's all visible," says the officer in charge, Senior Sergeant Colin McPherson.
The new design allows officers to view all the cells, both literally and through closed-circuit cameras.
Prisoners can also see police through the glass fronts of their cells, which are arranged in a semi-circle around computerised command centres.
Officers interact with prisoners via intercom from the command centres, which are equipped with screens linked to the cameras, and controls to open and close the key-less doors.
Mr McPherson said the open layout had proved to have two main benefits overseas: It reduced allegations of assault by police, and reduced the incidence of self-harm by prisoners.
In Australia, it had cut the number of suicides among Aborigine people because they tended to self-harm when placed in cells away from others.
He said about 10 prisoners a week in Rotorua were deemed at risk of self-harming, and in the old cell-block it was difficult for officers to monitor them because they could not see the cells from the watch-house.
Some of the new cells have televisions and piped music, which Mr McPherson admitted was controversial. But he said it had been shown to have a calming effect.
Prisoners were also more likely to allege officers had assaulted them when cells and processing areas were out of view of others, he said.
The processing area in the new cell-block is open, without any of the traditional glass barriers or bars between prisoners and processing officers.
The second storey of the facility is designed to house prisoners for longer stays of a few days, which police hope will reduce the number of 3-hour daily trips made to Waikeria Prison.
Overall, the light, quiet interior is a far cry from the dark, dungeon-like cells in the old block which Mr McPherson said were unpleasant for both prisoners and police.
BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING
The high-tech cell-block:Is monitored by 150 security cameras.
*Features glass cells which allow police to better monitor prisoners.
*Boosts capacity to 54 beds, from about 25 in old cell-block.
*Includes a disabled cell, a padded cell, a lift that allows officers to segregate prisoners, and a dedicated office for a mental health nurse.
*Will employ 13 sworn officers and 21 temporary sworn officers.
*Officially opens on July 16.
