12 March 2007
Wanganui Prison was encircled by the Army this weekend as Corrections helped personnel from Linton Military Camp prepare for an up-coming tour to the Solomon Islands.
The troops, practicing exercises in prison perimeter security, monitored the exterior of the prison, night and day, for two days.
Midland Regional Manager Leanne Field said while the Department was delighted to help assist the Army, their presence would also support the Department's tough stance on contraband for the time they were there.
"There are members of the public who try to and get contraband into the prison by throwing it over the perimeter fence," said Ms. Field.
"Having forty covert officers stationed around the prison with technology such as night vision capability was a valuable addition to our current security measures to ensure that there is no illegal activity taking place," she said.
"They will assist the increased surveillance systems, checkpoint point controls and number of searches that have helped us capture three times more contraband in the last three years," said Ms. Field.
New Zealand Defence Force spokesperson James Heffield said the army valued the opportunity for its soldiers to experience an intensive pre-deployment training programme that would mirror the work they have to do at Rove Prison in the Solomon Islands.
"The New Zealand Defence Force has been supporting the Regional Assistance Mission in the Solomon Islands since 2003. As part of this, 43 soldiers will be deployed for four months by late March," said Mr Heffield.
"The exercise has been a success for both parties, and I hope it will be repeated again."
ENDS