25 July 2008
The Department of Corrections today said that drugs and contraband, including a knife, had been intercepted from reaching prisoners at Tongariro/Rangipo prison.
"Stopping contraband entering prisons, and apprehending those who do attempt to smuggle it in, is one of Corrections' highest priorities," says Tongariro/Rangipo Prison Manager Dave Pomeroy.
"Thanks to the diligence and hard work of our staff, the drugs and contraband were found before they entered the site."
In one instance a small quantity of marijuana had been found concealed in a letter addressed to a prisoner.
"The person sending the letter obviously didn't realise the prison regularly checks mail for contraband before it is handed to the prisoner.
"Our staff noticed something unusual about this mail and upon further investigation discovered a quantity of drugs. This was immediately handed over to the Police," says Mr Pomeroy.
Tongariro/Rangipo Prison staff have also foiled the attempts of visitors to bring contraband onto the site. The prison recently had family days which the prison holds periodically to assist prisoners to establish and maintain relationships with their family.
"A prison checkpoint was set up by our trained staff, assisted by Police. The team used drug dogs to aid in the search to ensure that visitors did not try to bring contraband onsite.
"Staff found a variety of contraband items that were confiscated from visitors and in many cases reported to Police. The check point team found items including a knife, cannabis leaf and other drug paraphernalia. These items had been concealed in handbags, within a visitor's shoe and hidden on their person," says Mr Pomeroy.
"Any visitors that attempted to bring contraband onsite were excluded from visiting and may face Police charges.
"Prisoners have a high rate of drug dependency. Preventing contraband from coming in is one way to help curb this dependency."
Almost all prisoners will one day return to the community, family days are designed to help prisoner's effective reintegration by helping them maintain links to the community.
Family days allow prisoners and their families to have an extended visit in a more relaxed environment. Though the visits are more relaxed security onsite never is.
"In the last five years we have implemented a number of security measures, including electronic security devices and cameras, closed circuit TV, video motion detectors, microwave sensors, and an extra electronic barrier arm.
"Prison checkpoints are regularly set up at the prison entrance to screen all persons entering the site. Checkpoints routinely involve searches being undertaken by drug dogs. This has resulted in greater amounts of contraband being intercepted.
"Our contraband strategy is working, detection has increased markedly and positive random drug tests returned in prisons are now approximately 14 per cent compared with 34 per cent in 1998."