Ombudsman releases Spring Hill Corrections Facility inspection report
2 August 2017
Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier today published his report on an unannounced inspection of Spring Hill Corrections
Facility, as part of his commitment to publish reports from an intensified monitoring programme.
A nine-person inspection team visited Spring Hill from 20 to 28 February 2017, examining facilities and interviewing
staff and prisoners.
The inspection was undertaken under the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT), which puts
international obligations on New Zealand to ensure people held in detention are treated humanely and with decency and
dignity.
“Publishing these reports supports our strengthened OPCAT programme and is part of my push for greater transparency
across the public sector”, said Peter Boshier. “People in detention are among our most vulnerable citizens and we must
meet international standards for how they are treated.”
The Spring Hill inspection found the prison was working hard to meet new challenges such as the introduction of remand
prisoners and a significant increase in prisoner population, and double-bunking in cells designed for one prisoner.
Key recommendations concern improvements to first night in custody arrangements, improved systems for documenting the
use of force, and completing a Shared Accommodation Risk Assessment (SACRA) before putting prisoners into double-bunked
cells.
A copy of the report is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz.