Suspended prison boss still has use of work car
The boss of one of New Zealand’s largest prisons still has use of his work car more than a year after he was placed on leave with full pay.
Christchurch Men’s Prison director John Roper, security manager John Cooper and residential unit manager Doug Smith have been on leave on full pay since an inquiry into security issues was launched in May last year.
The investigation – dubbed a ‘‘security review’’ – unearthed ‘‘extremely serious allegations’’ relating to a ‘‘number of substandard management and security practices’’ at the jail, according to a summary of the findings.
On Monday, Corrections regional commissioner Ben Clarke confirmed Roper still had access to his work car.
‘‘When a staff member is subject to an investigation they remain entitled to the existing terms and conditions of their employment.
‘‘In this case the Prison Director has access to a departmental vehicle in the course of their employment, and for limited personal use for travel to and from work and incidental stops between these locations.’’
Matters relating to the security review at the prison were almost complete, Clarke said.
‘‘This is a very serious issue and requires significant consideration of complex legal matters.’’
Roper declined to comment when contacted yesterday.
A source close to the prison said it was ‘‘bloody ridiculous’’ that Roper still had the vehicle. ‘‘Somebody else could be using it. The contract needs to be rewritten.’’
Police are investigating a ‘‘narrow’’ part of the review’s findings, understood to relate to the use of listening devices.
Corrections refused to release the full investigation report, which was completed in August last year, because it says it contains information that could prejudice the ongoing police investigation, endanger people’s lives and discourage confidential informants.
However, the chief ombudsman, following a complaint from Stuff, ruled a summary of the findings should be released.
The security review found elite guards – members of the Site Emergency Response Team (SERT) – and dog handlers used unauthorised listening devices bought from a Christchurch business to spy on inmates.
A senior gang member was given access to a cellphone during a covert information-gathering operation. Cellphones are contraband in prison.
It was alleged Smith gave the cellphone to the gang member.
In June, Stuff revealed people may have been prosecuted or denied parole based on information prison staff gathered illegally using covert listening devices.
Three other staff at the prison, including regional dog section supervisor Kevin Hattrill, have been ‘‘subject to disciplinary action’’.
In April, a fourth staff member – senior prison guard Alastair Wood – was placed on ‘‘special leave’’ after he allegedly tried to interfere in the Corrections investigation by contacting one of the witnesses.
Cooper, Smith, Hattrill and Wood have declined to comment.
Prison sources previously said staff at the prison were frustrated the employment action involving Roper, Cooper and Smith had dragged on so long.
Their wages over that period, believed to total hundreds of thousands of dollars, could have funded several new guards to cover shortages.
Last year Stuff reported Roper and Smith received warnings after an inmate at the prison self-harmed while left on his own for several hours in an exercise yard in 2016.
The incident took nine days to be flagged at a national level after local staff failed to report it.