Invercargill Prison’s $11 million upgrade has been offi cially completed with Corrections staff, contractors, the Murihiku Advisory Komiti and invited guests gathering to celebrate the opening of the prison’s new Visitor Centre.
Launched in mid-2004, the three-year development project has transformed the prison from its 1910 origins into a modern and secure 21st century facility.
Speaking at the opening, Prison Manager Stu Davie thanked staff for their handling of the daily challenges brought about by the building process.
"To come through all that without any major incidents illustrates just how professional and competent they all are," he said.
Importantly, the building programme has enabled Invercargill Prison to comply with the Corrections Act 2004, which stipulates the need for remand prisoners to be separated according to their security classification. This would not have been possible in the original prison.
Stu says he is delighted with the new facilities and particularly the new Visitor Centre which is a clean, pleasant and humane environment for prisoners and visitors to meet and talk in.
"The fixed tables and chairs have been spaced to create a sense of privacy for prisoners and their visitors - without compromising security," he says.
Prison Manager Stu Davie speaking
at the opening of the new Visitor Centre
at Invercargill Prison.
The prison has also gained covered walkways between cell blocks, a new control room, new administration block, new fences and gates and a new receiving area for prisoners.
Cause for further celebration are the new security features installed to help the prison detect and prevent contraband entering the prisoner reception area and Visitor Centre.
Like all prisons around the country, Invercargill Prison is seizing more contraband - double the number of items since 2003. In 2003, 36 items were confi scated from prisoners and their visitors. In 2007, that figure rose to 77 items - drugs and drug-related paraphernalia accounting for almost half of all seizures.
Southern Region Manager Paul Monk says while no prison in the world is completely free of drugs and contraband, increased checkpoint surveillance, more drug dogs, a more secure visitors’ area and the continued professionalism of staff has seen a significant rise in contraband seizures at Invercargill Prison.
The number of cellphones detected rose five-fold in 2006, with 25 cellphones, chargers or SIM cards confiscated from visitors or found on prison premises. Anyone entering Invercargill Prison today - be they staff, contractors, suppliers or the general public - risks being searched for contraband.
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ISSN 1178-8453