Police investigating jail death

A homicide inquiry is under way following the death of a 25-year-old inmate at Hawkes Bay Prison.

The man was found dead yesterday morning but police said they were in the early stages of their investigation and have not revealed any further details of the death.

Detective Sergeant Warren Murdoch said the inmate's name would not be released until his next of kin had been notified.

Acting Midland Public Prisons Service regional manager Leanne Field said that staff were trained to deal with a death in custody but the homicide was distressing for everybody at the prison. She said support for staff and prisoners would be provided.

The Department of Corrections inspectorate, which acts independently of the Public Prisons Service, is also investigating the death. That investigation will be monitored by the Ombudsman.

In 2004-05, there were six unnatural deaths, five of which were suicide, in New Zealand prisons. Unnatural deaths include suicides, homicides, deaths by drug overdose and deaths by accident.