SYRINGES IN JAIL LAW ROW

PEOPLE who smuggle syringes into jail would escape criminal penalty under a
highly controversial proposed amendment to sentencing laws.

The Greens want the Government to scrap sanctions for smuggling hypodermic
needles into prison as part of its sentencing reform package.

In a recent briefing note to crossbenchers MLC Ian Cohen sought support for
removal of a clause in existing laws which makes it an offence to take
syringes into NSW jails and detention centres.

"The Greens are of the view that it is absolutely essential that inmates
are supplied with syringes," he wrote.

"The sooner the Government decides to do this the better.

"The supply of syringes in detention centres should not be treated as a
criminal matter rather, a health and justice issue."

The proposed amendment has outraged prison officers and stunned senior
Corrective Services personnel.

Prison Officers Vocational Branch spokesman Chris Horgan warned there would
not be "a single public servant left in the jails" if the proposed
amendment was accepted.

Since July this year 20 people have been caught trying to smuggle syringes
into NSW jails.