Fewer experienced guards in prisons

The staffing crisis in the Corrections Department is going from bad to worse, says National's Justice & Corrections spokesman, Simon Power.

"Not only is there a problem in recruiting sufficient suitable staff, but it's very clear there are now fewer experienced frontline guards than ever before."

He is releasing figures that show a big decline in the number of prison guards and probation officers with more than 10 years' experience.

They show that last year:
• 25% of guards had more than 10 years' experience, compared to 42% in 2001, and 37% had less than two years' experience, compared to 20% in 2001.
• 23% of probation officers had more than 10 years' experience, compared to 39% in 2001, and 40% had less than two years' experience, compared to 33% in 2001.

"This is concerning. We're losing experienced guards and probation officers at the very time we need them – when violent crime is reaching record levels (up by 6,252 offences last year to 56,983) and our prisons are being filled with more offenders.

"Corrections Minister Phil Goff will use the argument that the increase in the prison population and the opening of new prisons means they have had to hire more new staff, so diluting the percentage of experienced officers, but that would be misleading.

"The fact that the number of prison guards has increased by 891 does not explain why the number of those serving for more than 10 years has fallen by 146.

"Or why the total number of probation officers has increased by 111 but the number with more than 10 years' experience has dropped by 59.

"Phil Goff needs to take a long, hard look at why so many experienced frontline staff are leaving.

"It's not good enough to one minute put staff 'on notice' to improve their performance, and the next minute to dish out $1.8 million on bonuses and perks, mostly to managers.

"There needs to be a culture change, and I'm hoping Parliament's inquiry into the Corrections Department will help address that by spending a lot of time on recruitment and employment issues." 

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