|
|
| NZ COs Accused of Sexual Assaults |
| By The Sunday Telegraph |
| Published: 11/28/2005 |
|
New Zealand prison officials have been accused of attacking and sexually assaulting 38 NSW inmates in the past year, new figures show. Minister for Justice Tony Kelly said there had been 30 reports of alleged assaults by custodial staff and eight alleged sexual assaults. Responses to questions on notice from a Budget Estimates hearing also revealed drugs and alcohol have been a problem plaguing New Zealand jails over the past year. Ten prison officers have been dismissed for drunkenness or disciplinary reasons in the past 12 months and three had their contracts terminated for drug use. A further 18 staff members were referred for alcohol counseling. Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon called on Kelly to disclose whether these allegations of assault were being investigated. "There have been a disturbing large number of allegations of assaults and sexual assaults committed by prison staff on inmates in NSW jails," she said. "I have asked the Minister what investigations have been undertaken into these allegations. Where assaults have occurred surely all Corrective Services staff who have been involved in these attacks should be banned from any interactions with prisoners." Opposition juvenile justice spokeswoman Catherine Cusack said drugs were an issue in prisons among inmates and staff. She said visitors caught attempting to smuggle drugs should be investigated and charged. "Out of 2200 visitors screened, 162 were refused entry on the basis of a positive indication by drug-detector dogs," she said. "I am extremely unhappy that anyone caught by a drug-detection dog trying to smuggle drugs into a custodial facility would be merely turned away. Police should have been called to investigate these positive results and serious charges possibly laid. Opposition justice spokesman Andrew Humpherson said prison staff who allegedly committed the assaults should be punished. |
MARKETPLACE search vendors | advanced search
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
|
Comments:
No comments have been posted for this article.
Login to let us know what you think