20 November, 2002
A Fire Service report released on fire safety in New Zealand prisons is a significant step toward the development of fire safety protection according to Department of Corrections National Property Manager William Whewell.
Mr Whewell says the report was jointly commissioned by both organisations to check the fire systems currently in place in New Zealand prisons.
"The Department was aware that there were some issues that needed to be addressed in order to bring all its buildings up to current building standards. The report will help us to establish a plan to rectify these based on a prioritised list over the next 10 years."
In recent years the Department has taken significant steps to improve fire safety in prisons.
"All cells contain call alarms that an inmate can activate back to closely placed and manned control rooms, and staff training and fire drills are carried out regularly at all sites.
"Facilities built in the last three years have both advanced smoke detection systems and compliant sprinklers. The Department is concerned that this standard does not apply to all sites and is seeking to address this in partnership with the Fire Service," says Mr Whewell.
The Department and the Fire Service are currently working together to establish a Memorandum of Understanding which will outline each party's roles and responsibilities in improving the level of fire safety in all prisons.