Twin-pronged probe into jail incident

A criminal investigation will run alongside an internal Department of Corrections inquiry into a chemical incident at Invercargill Prison on Wednesday night, which resulted in several casualties.

Two officers on a routine patrol about 3pm discovered a prisoner smoking an unidentified substance, believed to be P - pure methamphetamine.

Beven Hanlon, Corrections Association of New Zealand president, said the prisoner then threw something in the air and lit it, which caused a large cloud of smoke to envelop officers.

Fourteen people, including a prisoner, underwent decontamination at the scene by a specialist fire service unit, and 11 people including a fireman were taken to hospital for treatment after experiencing minor to moderate respiratory difficulties.

A spokesman for the Department of Corrections said there would be an internal police investigation into the incident.

"Two staff were kept in hospital overnight for observation and were discharged this morning," he said.

"Staff affected were given the opportunity to take leave if necessary. No prisoner suffered any ill effects and prison routine returned to normal by 6pm last night."

Senior Sergeant Richard McPhail, of the Invercargill police, confirmed that CIB investigators and fire officers had been back at the scene yesterday and would be conducting a full inquiry.

The drug P has been linked to many violent crimes in New Zealand, including the 2003 murder of Wairarapa schoolgirl Coral Burrows by her stepfather Steven Williams, and the 2001 triple murder at Mt Wellington-Panmure RSA Club in South Auckland by William Bell.

Because of the potential risk of a hazardous chemical contamination, Southland Hospital yesterday set up an alternative emergency department in the day surgery for newly presenting patients but the emergency department reopened late last night.

- NZPA