17 June, 2003
A new search policy was adopted by New Zealand's prisons on Monday 16 June. The policy means that all entrants to a prison site could be searched - including staff, managers, judges, police, overseas delegates, service providers, and statutory visitors such as MPs. To date, search efforts have concentrated on inmate visitors.
Public Prisons Service (PPS) General Manager Phil McCarthy says the policy provides added protection to staff and visitors.
"We're working to stop drugs and other contraband from entering prisons. There are times when some inmates might pressure visitors or staff to bring this material to them. Having a single search policy means no one group is treated differently.
"The new policy fits within the law, which allows for any person entering a prison to be searched. It brings New Zealand in line with international best practice of corrections jurisdictions such as the United Kingdom and Australia, where such searching is already routinely carried out."
Search procedures include vehicle checkpoints, use of drug detector dogs, metal detectors, hand-held scanners and bag searches.
The entry searching will not operate continuously at prisons, but instead be applied on a random basis.
"For example, all entrants to a site may be searched on a random day. In its current application, the policy is similar to the 'anytime, anywhere' approach of driver alcohol testing. What it establishes is the principle that any entrant to a prison site may be searched," explains Phil.
Searches must be performed legally and correctly. The policy joins a range of strategies designed to keep prisons free of drugs and other contraband.
Other strategies include random vehicle checkpoints on visiting days, the use of drug dogs, a confidential 0800 line for anyone with information about drugs and contraband, testing inmates for drug use, drug and alcohol treatment programmes to rehabilitate inmates and reduce the drug demand, and working with police on intelligence matters.
During 2002 about 5,000 visitors' vehicles were searched at New Zealand prisons. This resulted in 80 arrests and the seizure of drugs, drug paraphernalia and weapons.