12 September 2007
Positive results from general random drug testing at Tongariro/Rangipo Prison have plummeted from 50% in 1998 to 14% in the year to June 2007.
Prison Manager Paul Vlaanderen says the Department of Corrections' determination to rid prisons of drugs and contraband has been rigorous and he's quietly confident that the successes achieved by Tongariro/Rangipo Prison will have a significant and long-lasting impact.
Tongariro/Rangipo Prison is unique in that it’s not fenced, it's the country’s largest prison site (a total of 8481.6 hectares with around 4200 hectares being forest, 2400 hectares farm and the remaining 1840 hectares being roads, river reserves, wetlands and native forest) and unlike most New Zealand prisons, it has two entrances rather than a single-entry point.
To help address these challenges, a walk-through metal detector has been installed in one of the units, the prison has drug dog capabilities working onsite, Crime Prevention Information Capability (CPIC) staff are now helping the Department of Corrections build intelligence capability on drugs and illegal items entering the prison, and a boom gate barrier arm has been installed at the north end of the prison.
Mr Vlaanderen says a vehicle with drugs and a weapon concealed in it was recently halted and held back by the boom gate until the police arrived and made an arrest.
CPIC is based on best-practice models of intelligence seen in justice sector agencies such as Police and Customs, as well as overseas corrections jurisdictions including Australia, Canada and United Kingdom.
There are five CPIC regional teams (plus three teams established for the Department of Corrections four newest prisons) which include analysts, managers, support officers and drug dog handlers.
Mr Vlaanderen says the CPIC team employed for the Tongariro/Rangipo area keeps him well advised and it’s paying off.
"They’re very focused on ridding the prison of crime-related activities. In conjunction with our custodial staff, they're doing a great job," he says.
"My staff have zero tolerence for drugs. All visitors and staff entering the prison are liable to be searched."
Concealed cellphones are picked up by regular cell searches, and metal and cellphone detectors now used in all units. Every vehicle entering one of the two entrances is checked by drug dogs.
Mr Vlaanderen says between June 2006 and June 2007 Tongariro/Rangipo Prison randomly searched 200 vehicles, 356 visitors and 240 staff.
Detecting cellphones is now a key offensive in Corrections' bid to curb organised crime and unauthorised contact within prison.
• Drug testing is a key strategy used by Corrections to reduce drugs in prison.
• New Zealand prisons first trialled drug testing between March and June 1998 - a three-month period that would set the "bench mark" as to how high drug use was inside New Zealand Prisons.
• The general random category is used for prisoners in custody for 30 days and within 10 days of a final discharge.
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