Questions need to be asked of the Corrections Minister as yet another serious event occurred in our prisons, National’s Corrections spokesperson Simon O’Connor says.

“It was only a month ago that a prison officer was stabbed twelve times in the face at Hawkes Bay Prison, and now the same prison has had six youth offenders sitting on a roof and refusing to come down.

“The Corrections Minister needs to be asked how it has come to this.

“Front line staff have been warning the sector that they, and the system, are under enormous pressure. In the space of one month these warnings have proved very warranted, given the events that have unfolded.

“Unfortunately, events like this can become predictable as the Department of Corrections has almost 1,500 job vacancies and assaults on prison staff and prisoners remain sky high.

“National appreciates all the work that the Corrections officers have done to resolve the situation, but once again calls on the Minister to undertake the work needed to ensure our prisons are properly staffed, funded, and safe.”