The Chief Ombudsman is calling on Whanganui Prison to take urgent steps to stop violence and intimidation among inmates at the facility.
This statement follows a full, unannounced inspection of the prison in February.
Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier found there has been a high and increasing amount of violent incidents reported each month.
Two of the prison’s units had the highest number of recorded assaults of all the Department of Corrections’ lower north region facilities.
He says that levels of violence and intimidation are likely to be even higher.
A survey of prisoners showed that 71 percent of them would not report incidents.
Common reasons include a perception that gangs are in control and that reporting would cause them even more difficulties.
Mr Boshier says prisoners fear for their safety so they don’t report the stand-over tactics or bullying they experience from other inmates, yet they tell inspectors that they are common occurrences.
“My inspectors also observed that incidents, like fighting, sparring and unexplained injuries, have increased since the last inspections.”
He says the prison did not have an active gang management strategy in place, but the Prison Director confirmed he was in the process of developing one.
Mr Boshier says this was surprising given that more than forty per cent of the prisoners were either gang members or associates.
“My Inspectors concluded that the pervasive influence of gangs at the prison was having a detrimental effect on both prisoners and staff. Without a localised, focussed gang strategy, perpetrators of violence will continue to bully and intimidate while victims are routinely disadvantaged.”
The statement also said that there was little evidence of care planning for patients with complex, long-term conditions and ventilation in both high and low-security units was acknowledged as inadequate.
Overall, accommodation was generally clean and well-maintained in all but two complexes and case managers provided a timely and satisfactory level of service to their prisoners. As well as prisoner admissions being carried out in a calm and measured manner.
In the statement it says health services were fit for purpose and staff believed the addition of mental health clinicians would provide them with more support.
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