Linton camp’s security probed

The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) is charged with protecting the country, but one military base seems to have a problem protecting itself.

Information released under the Official Information Act shows Linton Military Camp had four people walk onto its grounds in 2016, including a member of the Mongrel Mob.

All that separates Linton Military Camp from the rest of the world is a fence made out of a post and wire stock fence, a portion of deer fencing, and a residential profile aluminium fence.

A perimeter risk assessment conducted at Linton in 2014 showed it had remained virtually unchanged in the past two decades and was not a deterrence or delay for potential intruders.

However, the NZDF confirmed that was about to change as a security upgrade is finally scheduled for Linton Military Camp.

But this isn’t the first camp to encounter security issues.

In 2016, stolen NZDF weapon components worth $64,000 were left scattered on a rural North Island road.

A contractor working in the armoury at Waiouru was blamed and suspended from work on full pay, after a search of his home led to the seizure of more ‘‘items of interest’’.

The NZDF declined to say if munitions are stored at Linton.

But in the New Zealand Defence Estate Regeneration plan, which shows how the NZDF is set to spend $1.7 billion over the next 17 years, $10 million is earmarked to upgrade offices and ammunitions storage facilities at Linton.

In 2016, police were asked to do a crime scan and reported there had been a noticeable increase in violence, drug and dishonesty offences in the surrounding area.

About a quarter of the Manawatu Prison population had selfreported gang affiliations and the OIA said known gang members lived very close to Linton Military Camp.

Military Police recorded three incidents of people breaking into Linton Military Camp in 2016 in an attempt to smuggle contraband into Manawatu Prison, which is only separated by a chain-link fence with three strands of barbed wire.

One of these involved a gang associate, who admitted to being part of the Mongrel Mob.

Prison security staff reported that contraband coming into the prison was an increasing problem.

Manawatu Prison director Mark Cookson said there were many ways prisoners could get contraband items.

This included concealment in vehicles and products, concealment on an offender’s body, incoming mail and items being thrown over the fence.

‘‘Some prisoners will go to extreme lengths to introduce contraband and as some prison perimeter fences are close to areas that can be accessed by the public, prisoners’ associates may attempt ‘throw-overs’,’’ said Cookson.

They welcomed any plans to strengthen the fencing surrounding the camp.

Trentham Military Camp received a fence in 1995 and Defence HQ got one in 2006.

Both bases noted a reduction in minor offending after the fences were built.

An upgrade to Linton’s security is set for late 2017, to be finished by 2018.

‘‘Components of the project will include a perimeter fence, enhanced CCTV surveillance and front and rear gate hardening.’’