Coroner critical of Serco

A coroner who investigated a man’s suicide at an Auckland prison has slammed operator Serco for failing to clear the camera in his cell, which had been obscured for two weeks before he died.

Coroner Debra Bell also criticised the company and the Department of Corrections for failing to provide evidence, including witness testimony and medical records, for her investigation.

Father-of-three Wayne Hotton killed himself on September 6, 2014, while on remand in Mt Eden Corrections Facility.

The 45-year-old, who was facing drugs charges, would have taken ‘‘a number of days’’ to make preparations for his suicide, Bell’s report, released this week, said.

At the time of Hotton’s death, the prison was managed and operated by Serco under a publicprivate partnership.

Corrections took back control of the facility 10 months later following revelations of ‘‘fight clubs’’ at the jail.

Bell found the prison was shortstaffed for 15 months in the lead-up to the Auckland man’s death.

His cell had also not been searched for 25 days. However, Serco stressed its contract required it to search cells only every three months.

Bell’s report also found the camera in Hotton’s cell had been ‘‘completely obscured’’ after he smeared a substance, probably toothpaste, over it 15 days before he died.

‘‘This should have immediately alerted prison authorities,’’ she said.

‘‘Serco should have acted promptly to ensure [the camera] was operational at all times.’’

Serco said it accepted the findings of the report.