20 August
A prisoner coming to the end of his sentence at Tongariro/Rangipo Prison has had his plans to escape the long, international, arm of the law dashed thanks to the work of the Department of Corrections’ Operational Intelligence Unit.
The prisoner was facing deportation and subsequent criminal charges in the United Kingdom, when Operational Intelligence staff became aware of the intended actions of the soon to be deported prisoner.
“It was identified that the prisoner intended to somehow decamp from authorities at Hong Kong Airport in order to avoid active charges in the United Kingdom," says Regional Intelligence Manager David Alty.
“The information gained by the Operational Intelligence Unit that the prisoner intended to escape during his deportation was further supported when they discovered a second flight had been booked for the intended deportee from Hong Kong to Kuala Lumpur.
“The information was subsequently forwarded to Tongariro/Rangipo Prison management, Police and Immigration NZ, in order to help facilitate the prisoner’s deportation to the United Kingdom and stop any planned attempts at escaping.
“This is a prime example of how the Operational Intelligence Unit assists in protecting the public, by identifying possible criminal activity by prisoners and working with prison management and other agencies to prevent it. By targeting prisoners who are intent on offending in a criminal or unlawful manner, the Department can hold prisoners to account for their actions and ensure sentence compliance - including post release conditions, even with other jurisdictions.”
The Operational Intelligence team liaises closely with the New Zealand Police, Customs, MSD, Organised and Financial Crime Agency of NZ (OFCANZ) and the Combined Law Agency Group (CLAG) and provides them with information and evidence to use in their investigations or to bring charges against those involved in criminal offending and smuggling contraband into prisons.
The Operational Intelligence team are based across the country’s 20 prisons.
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