Probation service won't say why staff suspended

The Department of Corrections is not saying why it disciplined one of five Northland Community Probation Service employees accused of "inappropriate behaviour" and "serious misconduct".

All five had been suspended on full pay in recent months while investigations were carried out into their alleged behaviour.

Two of the staff members have now returned to work.

"An investigation into one staff member was completed and disciplinary action taken," the corrections department said in a written statement to the Northern Advocate newspaper.

"The second staff member returned to work because the initial findings from the investigation were not considered sufficiently serious to warrant ongoing suspension."

The remaining three staff members from Whangarei Community Probation Service office remained suspended on pay while an investigation into alleged inappropriate behaviour was undertaken, regional manager Astrid Kalder said. She refused to give more details.

The service's 47 staff were cut to 42 after the five suspensions earlier this year. But the department's statement said services were being delivered as normal and staff had continued to ensure offenders were able to report.

Staff had been moved around the area to assist with the workload in Whangarei and there was no increased risk to the community from offenders.

Three probation officers in the Whangarei office, believed to be two women and one man, were suspended on June 3.

Another staff member from the Whangarei office was also suspended on June 3 on an unrelated allegation. A Kaikohe office employee was suspended on March 22.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)