Troubles fester in overcrowded remand cells

By HELEN TUNNAH

An uprising by prisoners locked in Manukau court cells has intensified worries about the safety of police and civilian jailers guarding inmates who cannot be squeezed into overflowing prisons.

Tuesday's trouble at Manukau follows police confirmation that a woman officer was dragged by the hair and assaulted at the Henderson police cells, with charges laid against her alleged attacker.

Police said yesterday that "several" remand prisoners became agitated and rowdy, and began kicking the walls and door of their Manukau court cell. A window was broken, and extra police had to be sent to the court to stop any escalation of trouble.

As the Government continues to come under pressure over where it will house the exploding prison population, it has emerged that police are swearing in more civilians as "temporary constables" to act as jailers so officers can get back to their usual work.

The new jailers are being trained in self-defence, suicide prevention and the care of inmates.

The crush on prisons has been blamed mainly on a significant rise in the number of remand prisoners, those who are still waiting for trials or sentencing.

Cabinet ministers have this week continued to refer to them as "criminals" even though many have not been convicted.

Because there is no room in prisons, up to 200 inmates are being held every night in court and police cells where there is limited bedding and bathroom facilities, and sometimes no facilities for preparing food.

The Herald understands one police officer is so concerned at poor prisoner conditions in Manukau District Court cells that he has cleaned the toilets himself.

In an indication of how serious the problem is, police and Corrections Department officials are meeting three times a week to try to manage inmate numbers.

Police Association president Greg O'Connor said they were "very worried" about the safety of officers, security guards and the new jailers minding inmates, saying incidents were "inevitable".

National MP Tony Ryall yesterday asked Police Minister George Hawkins if the safety of police was being put at risk because of the record inmate numbers in police and court cells.

He released Justice Ministry papers blaming the increase in prisoners partly on the length of time it was taking for the courts to hear cases.

Mr Hawkins told Parliament police safety was always a priority.

That view was echoed by Superintendent Tony McLeod, the police national manager of operations.

He described the Manukau tensions as a "ruckus" and said no riot gear was needed to control the inmates.

The police and Corrections will soon renegotiate an agreement which allows specified numbers of inmates to be held at police cells if there are no prison beds available.

Mr McLeod would not say last night if increasing pressures meant the police would take a tough line in those talks.

He could not say how many extra part-time jailers had been hired.

Jailroom blues

A Henderson policewoman was allegedly dragged by the hair. A remand prisoner has been charged with assault.

Another attack on police staff occurred at Auckland Central cells.

Police are asked to look after ill prisoners needing medical care.

Upset prisoners have blocked their toilets, flooding cells.

Agreed limits on inmates to be housed by police are being exceeded.

Auckland Central police are juggling remand, immigration and sentenced prisoners.

Prison officers forgot to tell police that one inmate has bipolar disorder, or supply his medication.

Two teenage girls slept on the floor of a police interview room, because no CYFS beds were available.

Source: Police Association's Police News magazine.