11 June
Hawkes Bay Prison’s random positive drug tests are currently at 7.7%, the lowest they’ve ever been.
It’s an excellent result which is a direct outcome of the work done to stop contraband getting into the prison says Prison Manager George Massingham.
“Yesterday a female visitor to the prison was denied entry and arrested when she was found trying to take a quantity of cannabis inside. It is the second drugs bust in a fortnight, with the Drug Dog Team detecting the cannabis during a routine search of visitors.
“As the Drug Dog Team scanned visitors waiting to enter, the dog indicated the presence of drugs on a woman in line.
“Once she was singled out she asked if she could visit the toilet but was told she would need to be searched first – an 8g package of cannabis was found in her pocket.
“Though this was a relatively minor ‘bust’ for us it again demonstrates the importance of our security. Every little bit counts in keeping our prison free of contraband.
“These finds are a warning to other visitors who are thinking about bringing this junk to our prison. It’s not worth it, if you try, you will be caught and you will face the full consequences of your illegal actions.”
Attempts to smuggle contraband into prisons is an issue that effects all correctional jurisdictions worldwide. The Department has shown that our work at keeping contraband out of prisons is first-rate.
Prison security has had regular success throughout the country recently with significant finds being detected at Auckland, Tongariro/Rangipo, Rimutaka and Christchurch Men’s Prison.
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