28 October
Recent prisoner phone monitoring operations have resulted in two prisoners being charged with threatening to kill. The two prisoners, one from Arohata Prison and one from Wellington Prison, made calls from within prison to their partners threatening violence. The calls were monitored as part of the Department’s regular monitoring operations.
“This kind of threatening and violent behaviour will not be tolerated and these cases demonstrate to prisoners that if they make these types of threats they will be charged and face the full consequences of their actions,” says Chief Custodial Advisor Eric Fairbairn.
“Monitoring prisoner phone calls is key to maintaining security at our prison sites. Prisoners are fully aware that their calls can be monitored so there is no excuse for them attempting to intimidate people from within prison.
“Telephone monitoring technology heightens the chances of prisoners engaged in this sort of activity being detected and prosecuted.
“Inevitably, being in prison means rights and privileges are restricted, however this doesn’t mean that prisoners contact with the world is completely removed. Prisoners are encouraged to maintain links with family and support networks so they can make a smooth return to the community when they complete their sentences. However, our call monitoring technology means we can identify when this privilege is being abused and ensure that the safety of the public and our communities is being preserved.”
Notes to Editors
Telephone monitoring was progressively introduced throughout the country in 2008. Every prison in New Zealand now has phone monitoring facilities.
All calls will be recorded and monitored on a random basis. The Department has the ability to keep phone recordings for 180 days under the Privacy Act.
The Department also has the ability to pass any recording of interest to other agencies, such as the Police, IRD or Work and Income New Zealand.
Calls made to the Office of the Ombudsman, prisoner’s legal representatives, Members of Parliament and selected Government agencies are exempt from monitoring.
Successes thus far include charges against prisoners for robberies, gang activity and illegal drug use.
For further information contact the Communications Services Desk: