KFC for inmates `poor decision' | Hawkes Bay News | Local News in Hawkes Bay

ROSE HARDING

The Hawke's Bay prison manager who bought KFC for inmates after a cell search made a poor decision.

Midland region manager Peter Grant, whose area of responsibility covers Hawke's Bay prison, said he was not happy about the incident reported earlier this week.

Inmates in unit eight were provided with about $200 of KFC for allowing their cells to be searched for drugs and contraband without making a fuss.

Mr Grant said the inmates were mustered in a dining area and were getting agitated at the thorough search, which turned up cellphones, weapons and drugs, he said.

A staff member told them the manager could buy them KFC if they behaved, which left the manager in a difficult position, he said.

"He chose to buy them KFC to avert a riot rather than use the control response we have available."

Mr Grant said the incident gave the staff, inmates and community the wrong message.

"It was a poor decision made by an otherwise good staff member.

"We put our hand up to that."

The same manager was responsible for a similar incident two weeks earlier in unit six.

Mr Grant said the incident was being investigated and it was too early to say if the manager would be disciplined.

He was a staff member who had done a lot of good work in the prison, Mr Grant said.

He rejected Corrections Association head Bevan Hanlon's claim that such incidents undermined staff morale.

"The searches are doing something about drugs and contraband in the prison which is good for staff morale."

He also denied isolation cells were full and not available to be used as punishment for inmates who breach regulations.

He said inmates could be isolated in other parts of the jail or in their own cells.

"It's a matter of where they do their punishment."