Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Licence needed for work use Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

New prison beds will heighten staffing shortage

New prison beds will heighten staffing shortage

Extra prison beds being added to four prisons nationwide will help ease overcrowding, but is certain to exacerbate the prison officer understaffing crisis, says the Public Service Association (PSA).

Acting Corrections Minister Phil Goff today announced a further 240 beds will be added to Wanganui, Christchurch Men’s, Christchurch Women’s and Rimutaka prisons. The Department of Corrections currently needs an additional 300 prison officers and predicts this figure will grow to 1,500 staff as new prisons are opened over the next four years.

The PSA’s national organiser for the Department of Corrections, Alan Ware, says the extra beds make it even more urgent to improve the working conditions of prison staff.

“Prison staff are working longer working hours and recently agreed to introduce double bunking at some prisons to cope with the growing prison population.

“These extra beds will relieve the pressure on police cells and we welcome them for that reason. But the staffing problem remains unresolved and must be urgently addressed.

“Salaries continue to be a major impediment to prison officer recruitment. Potential prison officers can be paid the same or better wages working elsewhere, without the stress and long working hours.

“Until the salaries question is addressed staffing the nation’s bulging prisons will continue to be a headache for the government,” Alan Ware said.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

Featured News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.