Bed shortage worries police

Press, 27 June 1989, Page 5

Bed shortage worries police

PA Wellington There were only 24 empty prison beds left throughout New Zealand at the middle of last month, according to the Police Association.

In its June newsletter, the association said the pressure this put on prison and police officers had led to a new variation of the children’s game “Pass the Parcel.” “Pass the Prisoner is now in vogue but the latest variation is no game for those at the receiving end of an inadequate response from Government to what has become an extremely serious situation,” it said. The association has told the Justice Department, the Public Service Association (which represents prison officers) and police administration that its members will no longer transport prisoners unless they can be accom-

modated in a prison. Arrangements for enough beds must be made before association members would move prisoners from court cells, and prisoners who could not be accommodated at a prison would stay in court cells, the responsibility of the Justice Department.

as an interim measure until new jails were built.

Since then numbers had risen 619 though only 436 new beds were available. The prison population was now 3722, just 24 short of level C’s maximum. Prison officers have said if Level C in any institution is exceeded they may take industrial action.

“Police should not be the proverbial meat in the sandwich in what is essentially a dispute which should be resolved between the Justice Department and the prison officers’ representatives,” the association said.

“The time has passed for consideration to be given to this pressing issue. Action is needed, and now, not procrastination by politicians hoping that the problem will somehow magically right itself overnight,” the association said.

The maximum manageable level of prison muster, known as Level C, was 3746, agreed in 1987