Assaults in Rimutaka Prison have slightly risen over a two-year period and the number of gang members has also increased, according to a new report.
The Office of the Inspectorate, which is operationally independent while still part of the Department of Corrections, said in its report that violence, gang activity and standovers continued to occur in most high security units and there had been "insufficient progress" to reduce this.
In the six months to 30 September, 2019 there were 69 recorded prisoner-on-prisoner assaults. Of those, 59 occurred in high security units. During the same time period, 26 prisoner-on-staff assaults were recorded.
In comparison, in the six-month period prior to the prison's 2017 inspection, 68 prisoner-on-prisoner and 22 prisoner-on-staff assaults were recorded.
Chief inspector Janis Adair said an 'unlock regime' brought in to manage the violence had resulted in prisoners spending limited time out of their cells, although some felt safer.
Staff split each high security unit - which typically has between 43 and 45 prisoners - into six groups. During unlock, one group was released into the yard while another was released into the unit. The remaining groups remained locked in their cells. Each group had approximately 45 to 50 minutes unlock time in the morning and again in the afternoon, the report said.
"High-security prisoners we spoke with advised they felt frustrated with the limited time out of their cells and confirmed that tension existed in the units," the report said.
"During one morning unlock process, we observed prisoners in the yard ignoring staff instructions and attempting to delay having to return to their cells."
Staff told inspectors that type of response from prisoners "regularly occurred" in the units, which meant time available for the afternoon unlock was further reduced.
"One staff member told us about a prisoner he had spoken to who wanted to assault an officer so he could be re-classified and transferred to another prison where he was likely to receive more time out of his cell."
However, several prisoners told inspectors that while they didn't like the limited time out of their cell, they "appreciated" being unlocked with fewer prisoners and "felt safer".
The report also said there'd been an increase in the number of gang members since its 2017 inspection.
Of the 1038 prisoners housed as of September 2019, 536 (51.6 percent) identified as gang members. Of those, 346 (64.5 percent) were housed in the high security units. Overall, there was an increase of 157 active gang members since the 2017 inspection.
Staff told inspectors the ongoing presence of gang members in the units had led to an increase in prisoner tattooing, particularly facial tattoos.
"For the six-month period to 31 October 2019, 72 incidents were recorded relating to tattoos with all but five linked to the high security units," the report said.
"Staff told us tattoos were typically completed in the evening by gang members sharing cells with other prisoners. Staff reported they found it particularly difficult to see a younger prisoner emerge from their cell during morning unlock with a facial tattoo."
Staff said part of Rimutaka Prison's gang strategy was to reduce the prevalence of prison tattoos. From January to March 2019, one prevention response it tried was to remove the availability of CD players because they contain a "key mechanical component" needed for tattooing. But this approach was seen as "unsustainable" in the long term since tattooing continued to happen.
Standovers also continued to occur, but prisoners "did not appear overly concerned" about them.
"Staff advised us that when standovers occurred they typically involved nicotine replacement lozenges," the report said.
"Staff said any new prisoners arriving into the unit were often targeted by other prisoners for their lozenges."
Also, contraband - including drugs, alcohol and weapons - created "safety and good order risks" for staff and prisoners.
"Prisoners we spoke with informally across the prison all advised there was either no contraband in the units, or that contraband levels were low."
