Corrections must stop inmate’s travelogue

The Corrections Department should stop a prisoner writing a website blog in which he describes life behind bars and criticises the judge who sentenced him, says National’s Law & Order spokesman, Simon Power.

He is commenting on a report that a prisoner is using email to write the blog, which is against Corrections policy. He is the same prisoner who was found guilty of sedition following an axe attack on Prime Minister Helen Clark’s electorate office.

“This is ridiculous. This prisoner is being allowed to write what is basically a travelogue of life behind bars.

“It is concerning that Corrections does not seem the least bit interested in stopping him writing whatever he likes.

“What’s to stop him compromising prison security by writing about how things work in there?

“If Corrections doesn’t shut down this type of activity then the next step will be prisoners using mobile phones to take photographs and put them on the web – if it isn’t happening already.

“This sort of carry-on is hardly sending a message to people that prison is a place where you are deprived of many of your liberties.

“Corrections has a responsibility to ensure that sentences are seen to be done and some liberties denied.

“That hardly seems to be the case in this instance, and I will be asking Corrections Minister Damien O’Connor what he is doing to put a stop to this.”

Ends

© Scoop Media