15 December
A combined effort between the Department of Corrections and Police has led to over 20 offenders serving community work sentences in Tauranga being brought before the courts for a range of offences including breaching their sentences, possession of drugs and outstanding arrest warrants.
“Enforcing and upholding the integrity of community based sentences is key for the Community Probation Service,” says Heather Mackie, Central Regional Manager for Community Probation Services (CPS).
“It’s necessary for us to take action when we know, or suspect, that offenders are breaching the conditions of their sentence so that we can protect the integrity of the sentence and hold offenders to account for their actions.”
Last month Police executed a search warrant at the Tauranga Community Work Centre following a request by CPS staff. The search targeted offenders arriving to complete their court ordered hours of work for the day.
All offenders arriving at the centre were subject to an initial search by Corrections Specialist Drug Dog Hank from Tongariro/Rangipo Prison. Hank indicated the presence of drugs on several offenders who were then strip searched under Section 18 of the Misuse of Drugs Act. Four were eventually arrested and charged with drug offences.
Another 19 offenders also appeared in the Tauranga District Court facing breach charges relating to having unauthorised items such as cellphones and food in their possession. If convicted, they could face a number of sanctions including fines of up to $1000, more community work or even imprisonment of up to three months.
“It sounds overly stringent not to allow offenders to bring cellphones or food to community work, but cellphones can be a big distraction when these people are meant to be working, and food can be the cause of tension between offenders and also used to conceal drugs,” says Heather.
“Offenders completing community work have been sentenced by the Courts to undertake work for not-for-profit and community organisations as reparation for their offending. Our job is to ensure that they are carrying out this work appropriately.”
The exercise has also proven useful for ensuring that offenders in other towns are complying with their sentences. Community work offenders in Te Puke were told about the Police operation at Tauranga and offered the chance to voluntarily handover any unauthorised items to be stored while they were completing their hours. A Senior Community Work Supervisor collected 12 cellphones from the groups of 19 men, along with pies and soft drinks.
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