Minister of Corrections: Urgent independent inquiry needed into prison system

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To Minister of Corrections Hon. Kelvin Davis,

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I am writing to express my concern regarding the disturbing and shocking reported experiences of several women at Auckland Region Women’s Correctional Facility (ARWCF) at a hearing in Auckland’s Manukau District Court. 
 
The hearing revealed processes used at the prison include; 
- ‘Cell-buster extraction’; where several cans of pepper spray are pumped into a confined cell before five to six officers in full riot gear physically pull the occupant out of the cell. 
- ‘Feeding procedure’: where people in high security units are made to put their nose on the ground before they’re allowed their food on security grounds.

Other issues include; 
- People laying complaints that were not being properly documented (one person claimed they had made more than 30 complaints but court documents only showed ten recorded). 
- Despite a person displaying desperate behaviour and her and others indicating she wanted to take her own life, she was not moved to an appropriate unit.  
- Sanitation; Bedding and clothes not changed frequently, personal sanitation products not provided unless used products shown.

This also follows Official Information obtained by Amnesty International and an internal Corrections review in September that showed previous failings of Corrections to keep adequate records of lockdown hours (pre-COVID-19) and that use of force at the prison was too readily used rather than being used as a last resort. The information in September also brought to light serious concerns regarding access to healthcare, and workplace issues that had created a problematic environment for staff.

I want to live in a country that prioritises the human rights of all people. Everyone, including people in prison, have the right to dignity and care.

Therefore, I am urgently calling on you to action an immediate ban on pepper spray “cell-busting” extraction, degrading practices that amount to withholding food, better record keeping, an overhaul of the complaints system and for a full independent inquiry to ascertain the state of prison systems in Aotearoa. 
 
I urge you to take immediate action now to stop practices that are deeply inhumane, and longer term action outlined by Amnesty International to ensure this never happens again.

Sincerely,

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Warning: This petition contains discussions of distressing mental health experiences and violence

Imagine being held alone in a cell for months on end with limited human contact; hosed with pepper spray in a confined space by prison officers in full riot gear despite suffering from asthma; having to put your nose to the ground before you are fed... living with inadequate sanitation and no idea when it's all going to end.

This description paints just a small picture of the harrowing reality for several women at Auckland Region Women’s Correctional Facility (ARWCF), including Mihi Bassett (pictured to the right), revealed at a hearing in Auckland’s Manukau District Court.

Shocking reports have revealed the use of pepper spray ‘cell-buster extraction’, dehumanising food procedures, irregular record-keeping, and a lack of sanitation care – raising serious questions as to whether some of these practices could amount to torture.

Everyone has the right to dignity and care, including people in prison.

Corrections has the power and the responsibility to ensure a human rights-respecting system in Aotearoa.

On 22/03/21, Minister Davis issued a public apology to Mihi Bassett and the women at Auckland Women's Prison and accounced an overhaul of processes and management of women's prisons. This is a huge step in the right direction, and evidence of people power working! But we're not done yet. What happened at Auckland Women's Prison is a symptom of systemic issues across the prison system.

This is why we need your help to take urgent action and sign the petition below.

Call on Minister of Corrections – Hon. Kelvin Davis to:
- immediately ban pepper spray “cell-busting” extraction
- end degrading practices that amount to withholding food
- instigate regular nation-wide monitoring and reporting on minimum entitlements in each prison that is publicly available for scrutiny
- overhaul the complaints system
- action a full independent inquiry to ascertain the state of prison systems in Aotearoa.

The independent inquiry should take into account work that has come before such as Ināia Tonu Nei.