Changes for prison after ‘strike’ probe

Press, 24 September 1982, Page 3

Changes for prison after ‘strike’ probe

PA Auckland Changes to administration facilities at the new Paremoremo medium-security prison near Auckland have been announced after an inquiry into this month's “strike" by 140 inmates. The Minister of Justice, Mr McLay, said that a bus shelter, lockers, and extra seating for visitors — all asked for by the striking prisoners — would be given priority. He said that an experienced officer from another prison would help organise welfare and recreation until the permanent appointment of a welfare officer and teacher.

Mr McLay said that areview of staff deployment was already under way with the focus on the need for more senior officers. The Minister also released a report by the senior inspector of penal institutions. Mr R. Anstiss, who spent three days interviewing staff and

prisoners after the strike on September 7. Conclusions reached by Mr Anstiss. included:

© The prison Superintendent, Mr John Smith, needed more time to circulate in the institution, and the practice of calling superintendents away for appeal boards needed reviewing. © There had been a communication problem between the superintendent, staff and inmates, but more staff meetings and “frequent circulation of the superintendent ... should overcome this."

® The superintendent should co-ordinate rules and privileges with those at Mount Eden and similar jails.

The report agreed with the view of Mr Smith that the primary cause of the strike was agitation by a small group of inmates. At the request of Mr Smith, nine inmates who were gang members, had been transferred to Mount Eden Prison.

Mr Anstiss found that the

strike, which was handled "very well” by staff, came after a series of incidents the previous day. Some welfare requests had been denied because they were not properly written, and officers had searched for marijuana in one inmate’s cell. Later that day, a small fire was started in a rubbish bin.

The report said that 34 of the prison’s 43 basic grade prison officers had less than .12 months service, and they needed training and guidance ■from senior officers. “AH the matters raised with me during,my visit and during interviews make it clear that the institution is going through the initial problems that often beset new prisons as inmates and staff establish parameters,” Mr Anstiss said.

Mr Smith said yesterday that he was “very pleased" with the report and the way in which the Justice Department had acted quickly to investigate the prison’s problems.