Prisoners in New Zealand jails will have their smoking privileges taken away as from July 1 next year when a smoking ban comes into effect.
The smoking rate within the prison population is three times higher than that in the general population and poses serious health risks for both the prisoners and staff says the Ministry of Health.
Along with improving the health of prisoners, Corrections Minister Judith Collins said on Television New Zealand’s ‘Close Up’ programme that the amount of second hand smoke prison staff have to endure is, “completely unacceptable.”
“We have got three thousand five hundred staff who have to go to work everyday and breathe someone else’s second hand smoke,” said Ms. Collins.
Former prison manager Celia Lashlie believes that the move to ban smoking in prisons has nothing to do with health and safety. She was reported by 3news.co.nz as saying “That it would push already-volatile prisons closer to major incidents.”
Smoking-only areas could be created to protect the prison staff, she says.
The move will mean extra policing by staff who are already dealing with “desperate and disconnected people”.
“ I think we’re on the verge of some major incidents anyway - we can’t keep doing what we’re doing, we can’t keep screwing the system down in the way that we’re doing and not expect that something will blow, and I think that this will help blow it, “Ms Lashlie was reported as saying.
However, Ms Collins believes that smoking areas outside would be impractical because it would entail prison guards searching the prisoners before they returned inside.
Responding to comments that it would cause increased violence within the prison, the Corrections Ministers said that there were already risks at the present time because prisoners used matches and lighters to start fires and turned melted toothbrushes and plastic utensils into dangerous weapons.
Prisoners are expected to adjust to the new regime during the twelve month lead-up to the ban. Many prisoners already have drug and alcohol addictions, says Ms Collins. If the government is serious about helping them with these addictions then smoking should also be included.
The smoking rate within the prison population is three times higher than that in the general population and poses serious health risks for both the prisoners and staff says the Ministry of Health.
Along with improving the health of prisoners, Corrections Minister Judith Collins said on Television New Zealand’s ‘Close Up’ programme that the amount of second hand smoke prison staff have to endure is, “completely unacceptable.”
“We have got three thousand five hundred staff who have to go to work everyday and breathe someone else’s second hand smoke,” said Ms. Collins.
Former prison manager Celia Lashlie believes that the move to ban smoking in prisons has nothing to do with health and safety. She was reported by 3news.co.nz as saying “That it would push already-volatile prisons closer to major incidents.”
Smoking-only areas could be created to protect the prison staff, she says.
The move will mean extra policing by staff who are already dealing with “desperate and disconnected people”.
“ I think we’re on the verge of some major incidents anyway - we can’t keep doing what we’re doing, we can’t keep screwing the system down in the way that we’re doing and not expect that something will blow, and I think that this will help blow it, “Ms Lashlie was reported as saying.
However, Ms Collins believes that smoking areas outside would be impractical because it would entail prison guards searching the prisoners before they returned inside.
Responding to comments that it would cause increased violence within the prison, the Corrections Ministers said that there were already risks at the present time because prisoners used matches and lighters to start fires and turned melted toothbrushes and plastic utensils into dangerous weapons.
Prisoners are expected to adjust to the new regime during the twelve month lead-up to the ban. Many prisoners already have drug and alcohol addictions, says Ms Collins. If the government is serious about helping them with these addictions then smoking should also be included.
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