Guards quit in prisoners sex inquiry

Corrections under fire for handling of allegations female officers had trysts with prisoners, reports Helen King.

Two female prison officers have quit their jobs at Invercargill Men’s Prison in the past three years, following allegations they were having sexual relationships with inmates.

Their departure has allowed Corrections to abandon investigations into the allegations, which included reports of the women smuggling contraband.

A former inmate told Sunday Star-Times when he started his sentence in 2014 there were rumours a member of the Road Knights gang, with an extensive criminal history, was in a relationship with a female officer.

When contacted yesterday, the officer denied having a relationship with an inmate.

‘‘You have no idea what (Corrections) did to my life. They threatened me. I had a mental breakdown because of bullying from those bastards. Mental, physical, you name it.

‘‘The allegations are absolutely not true. I have a nervous breakdown because I was being bullied left right and centre.’’

The officer said she left Corrections in 2015.

In 2016 a second female officer was said to be involved with another young inmate whose criminal history included assault of a female and kidnapping.

‘‘It was common knowledge she was bringing in anything he wanted, including drugs and cigarettes. The thing that cracks me up is at the time the other officers just dismissed it as jail house

Where there are allegations made against staff, Corrections will undertake a preliminary investigation to validate the allegations. Daryl Tamati

rumours,’’ the former inmate said.

Invercargill Men’s Prison director Daryl Tamati confirmed there were allegations against two female officers, but said they had both resigned before an investigation could be carried out.

‘‘Where there are allegations made against staff, Corrections will undertake a preliminary investigation to validate the allegations,’’ Tamati said.

Tamati explained if there was evidence there had been potential criminal offending they would refer the matter to police.

‘‘In this case, as the staff members resigned before a preliminary investigation could be conducted and the validity of the allegations could not be assessed to a level that was sufficient to refer to the police.’’

He said Corrections had recently undertaken significant work to strengthen integrity within the organisation and make sure it was a part of workplace culture.

But the Corrections Association’s national president Alan Whitley isn’t happy with the way Corrections handled the situation.

‘‘We’d prefer an investigation went ahead regardless if the employee has left. It creates the potential for an unsafe environment for both officers and inmates if contraband is getting in the prison.’’

Whitley said as soon as allegations come to light there should be an investigation.

‘‘There are a number of female staff around the country who do a great job, this sort of situation puts them at risk.’’

Labour’s Corrections spokesman, Kelvin Davis, agrees with Whitley.

‘‘It’s not the first time I’ve heard of this type of relationship but Corrections can’t just wash their hands of it.

‘‘They need to get a grip on how it happened so they can prevent it in the future.’’

Tamati said any large organisation may encounter a few staff who cannot maintain the high standards expected of them.