Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Smoking ban and corruption linked in prisons

Updated at 11:31 am on 25 December 2012

The Criminal Bar Association says there is evidence a smoking ban in prisons is leading to corruption.

The ban came into effect in July 2011 and new regulations were put in place last month, making tobacco in prisons contraband.

Even though the High Court has ruled against the smoking ban in Auckland Prison, the Department of Corrections says it will not change its policy, as it has more recent regulations in place superseding those considered by the court.

The Criminal Bar Association says cigarettes now have the same value as narcotics in prison.

Corrections says finds of tobacco and smoking equipment have fallen from 1300 in the first six months of the ban to 1100 in the second six months.

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