15 January
Christchurch Men’s Prison staff have successfully once again stopped drug smuggling by a prisoner.
Late last week a visitor to the Prison was seen by staff attempting to give a package to a prisoner. Staff intervened immediately and instructed the prisoner to go to a strip area to be searched.
“During the strip search the prisoner refused to comply with search procedures to the satisfaction of staff,” says Christchurch Men’s Prison Manager John Roper. “Consequently staff made arrangements for the prisoner to be placed in a special cell where he could not dispose of any drugs or evidence.”
However this was all the encouragement the prisoner needed to then hand a package to a staff member. It was a package containing over 30 grams of cannabis.
“This is another example of our staff continuing to be vigilant, both with prisoners and those who visit them. Unfortunately family and friends of prisoners are often pressured to bring drugs into prisons, and staff have to be vigilant against drug smuggling,” says John Roper.
“Many prisoners have addictions to drugs or alcohol when they come to prison – preventing contraband from entering prisons is one of the ways we work to curb these addictions.
“There is a high demand for drugs in prisons. Stopping contraband is therefore one of the highest priorities for prison staff and the vigilance of Christchurch Prison staff is worthy of recognition.”
The Police have been involved in the incident and charges are pending.
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