The Corrections boss has admitted to having no confidence in the screening system designed to stop inmates from sending hateful letters from behind bars.
Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
The department has scrambled to strengthen the way prison mail is handled after confirming a second inmate - "a prisoner with extremist views" - has sent a letter which should have been blocked.
Corrections' chief Christine Stevenson this evening announced "an immediate review" into the screening of all prisoners' correspondence.
"This is totally unacceptable, it should not have happened, and I apologise for any further distress this has caused," she said.
It comes after revelations yesterday that the accused Christchurch gunman Brenton Tarrant had sent multiple letters from his cell, including one which was then posted online.
Ms Stevenson tonight confirmed she would have blocked two of the seven letters sent by the accused terrorist during his five months in custody.
She also confirmed she was alerted late on Thursday afternoon that another inmate had also sent mail from Christchurch Men's Prison which should not have been allowed out.
Newshub reported that the news organisation had received a "vile and violent" letter from white supremacist Philip Arps who is serving 21 months in prison for sharing a video of the Christchurch massacre.
Ms Stevenson said she had assured the minister she would be taking immediate action.
"I do not have confidence in our existing processes for reviewing and assessing of prisoners' mail, and I have called for an immediate review into this practice."
Until that independent review reported back, all mail from prisoners with extreme ideologies would be scrutinised by a central specialist team, Ms Stevenson said.
"I am confident the new process in place will prevent this from ever happening again."
An 'unprecedented' escalation
Corrections also confirmed an "unprecedented" escalation in the way the accused Christchurch gunman's mail would be handled, with every letter going to the chief executive for final sign-off.
A temporary halt was put on the accused's mail privileges yesterday while a new screening system was put in place.
Ms Stevenson this evening issued an assurance that from now on she personally would make the final decision on the handling of the prisoner's letters.
"The strengthened process which we are going to implement is unprecedented, and demonstrates the seriousness with which we are taking this, and our commitment to ensuring that we get this right."
A specialist team of prison managers, intelligence officers, psychologists, specialist partner agencies and the chief custodial officer would read all of the accused gunman's correspondence before it went to Ms Stevenson for final sign-off.
Previously, his mail was reviewed by intelligence staff and then cleared by the prison director.
"It is a fine balance to uphold our lawful obligations and mitigate all of the potential risks posed by this prisoner, who is being managed under the most stringent regime we have ever developed," Ms Stevenson said.
"I am confident that the changes we are making support our commitment to ensuring that he has no opportunity to cause harm or distress, either directly or indirectly to anyone."
During his five months in custody, the accused offender tried to send nine letters from his cell, two of which were blocked.
Forty-eight letters were sent to him, of which 18 got through. Fourteen were withheld and the other 16 were still being scrutinised.
Corrections officials are developing advice for Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis on what law changes could be made to strengthen the management of "extreme risk" prisoners.
In a statement, Mr Davis said there were clearly "deficiencies" in the management of some prison mail; Cabinet ministers would discuss whether the law was fit for purpose when they met on Monday.
