Drug profits ‘could be used as bribes’

Press, 22 August 1979, Page 5

Drug profits ‘could be used as bribes’

Profits from drug trafficking could be used to bribe prison officers, the Secretary for Justice (Mr J. F. Robertson) has warned in his annual report to be presented to Parliament. “It is crucial to recruitment and retention that both salaries and conditions of employment for prison officers remain competitive, satisfying, and rewarding,” Mr Robertson said.

“Moreover, there is a danger that high profits from the underworld of drug-trafficking may be used to put pressure an inexperienced prison staff to depart from the high standards of integrity that are characteristic of our prison service.” Mr Robertson said the Government’s “sinking lid” policy continued to

impose a restriction on recruiting, but, within the restrictions, recruiting at most institutions had been satisfactory.

The fact that there were fewer male prisoners last year greatly eased staff problems, except in the Auckland area where recruitment difficulties persisted.

At the end of March the male prison population was 2547, compared with 2675 at the corresponding time last year. During February this year the number fell to 2411, the lowest recorded since February, 1975. The most significant drop was in young men doing Borstal training — 44f for 1978, compared with 514 in 1977 and 634 in 1976. Mr Robertson said it was difficult to pinpoint the reasons for the decline in the number of male prisoners, but said it could be a ‘ reflection of the courts imposing other sanctions, short of custodial sentences.

He said the decline might be shortlived as mahy of the men now entering prison were second offenders. “If the present downward trend is a result of the use of noncustodial sentences it may prove to be temporary and followed by another upward trend,” he said. The number of male prisoners fell but the number of women inmates continued to rise. In March this year there were 140 female prisoners, compared with 125 in

March last year. In August, 1978, the female inmate population rose to more than 150, resulting in overcrowding. “Conditions at Mount Eden Women’s Prison are poor, even without overcrowding. Frequent overcrowding aggravates already unacceptable conditions,” said Mr Robertson.