News (Media Awareness Project) - New Zealand: Search Powers Combat Pressure |
| Title: | New Zealand: Search Powers Combat Pressure |
| Published On: | 2003-06-20 |
| Source: | Otago Daily Times (New Zealand) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-20 03:29:14 |
SEARCH POWERS COMBAT PRESSURE
New search powers will help staff and visitors resist pressure from gangs
to smuggle drugs and weapons into Dunedin Prison, site manager Mike
Anderson believes.
The new powers, introduced on Monday, allow prison staff to conduct random
searches of all prison visitors and other staff members at a time of their
choosing. In the past, while visitors were scanned with a metal detector,
prison staff needed reasonable grounds for searches and were restricted in
those they could search.
Mr Anderson said the new measures would give staff and visitors the power
to say "No" when pressured to smuggle in drugs and weapons.
"We are trying to stop drugs coming in, but the type of individuals coming
in now have been known to put pressure on staff or visitors.
"If we make this one rule, that offers staff and visitors some protection.
They know now they are liable to [get searched]. I think that gives people
being pressured outside the chance to say 'No, I can't'," Mr Anderson said.
As of Monday, staff were permitted to conduct bag searches, scan all
visitors and staff with metal detectors, employ dogs to search for drugs,
and search vehicles parked on prison grounds. Police, judges, overseas
delegates, service providers and MPs, to name a few, are no longer an
exception.
Searches would be organised in conjunction with other staff and regional
management in Christchurch, Mr Anderson said.
Public Prisons Service general manager Phil McCarthy said the new search
powers brought New Zealand into line with Britain and Australia and would
be similar to the "any time, anywhere" approach taken with drink-driving.
Searches during 2002 resulted in 80 arrests and the seizure of drugs, drug
paraphernalia and weapons around New Zealand, Mr McCarthy said.
Mr Anderson said up to 40 visitors arrived at Dunedin Prison each Sunday,
the busiest visitor day of the week, to visit the prison's 59 inmates.
About "four to six" visitors each year were caught attempting to smuggle
drugs, mainly cannabis and pills, into the prison.
New search powers will help staff and visitors resist pressure from gangs
to smuggle drugs and weapons into Dunedin Prison, site manager Mike
Anderson believes.
The new powers, introduced on Monday, allow prison staff to conduct random
searches of all prison visitors and other staff members at a time of their
choosing. In the past, while visitors were scanned with a metal detector,
prison staff needed reasonable grounds for searches and were restricted in
those they could search.
Mr Anderson said the new measures would give staff and visitors the power
to say "No" when pressured to smuggle in drugs and weapons.
"We are trying to stop drugs coming in, but the type of individuals coming
in now have been known to put pressure on staff or visitors.
"If we make this one rule, that offers staff and visitors some protection.
They know now they are liable to [get searched]. I think that gives people
being pressured outside the chance to say 'No, I can't'," Mr Anderson said.
As of Monday, staff were permitted to conduct bag searches, scan all
visitors and staff with metal detectors, employ dogs to search for drugs,
and search vehicles parked on prison grounds. Police, judges, overseas
delegates, service providers and MPs, to name a few, are no longer an
exception.
Searches would be organised in conjunction with other staff and regional
management in Christchurch, Mr Anderson said.
Public Prisons Service general manager Phil McCarthy said the new search
powers brought New Zealand into line with Britain and Australia and would
be similar to the "any time, anywhere" approach taken with drink-driving.
Searches during 2002 resulted in 80 arrests and the seizure of drugs, drug
paraphernalia and weapons around New Zealand, Mr McCarthy said.
Mr Anderson said up to 40 visitors arrived at Dunedin Prison each Sunday,
the busiest visitor day of the week, to visit the prison's 59 inmates.
About "four to six" visitors each year were caught attempting to smuggle
drugs, mainly cannabis and pills, into the prison.
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