$45,000 for jail TVs and games

The Corrections Department has spent more than $45,000 on LCD flat-screen televisions and PlayStations for prisoners, according to figures issued by the National Party.

National's justice and corrections spokesman, Simon Power, yesterday made public figures that he said showed that the department bought 32 LCD TVs in the 2006-07 financial year, at a cost of $40,691. Earlier, it bought eight PlayStations and 58 games, for $4682.

"Taxpayers' money should not be used to buy this state-of-the-art gear," he said.

In 2006 the department, reeling from controversies ranging from new prison budget blowouts to banned goods getting into jails, withdrew the use of PlayStation and Xbox games for inmates after National highlighted the issue.

Damien O'Connor, the minister at the time, said the electronic devices were being withdrawn till a departmental policy about the equipment could be developed.

More than a year later, Mr Power said that policy had still not been clarified.

Corrections' assistant general manager of operations, Bryan McMurray, said the use of the consoles, mainly in youth units, would remain suspended till there were clearer guidelines.

Quotes for building and installing frames to mount regular television sets were more expensive than buying and installing the flat-screen variety, he said.

But Mr Power rubbished a response contained in Corrections' financial review for 2006-07 that LCD televisions were favoured instead of normal colour sets because their lightweight nature meant they could be more easily wall-mounted in positions that provided protection against damage by prisoners.

" If someone is intent on removing something from a wall, it's not going to matter whether it's a flatscreen LCD or a cheap, square television mounted in the corner," he said. "It seems ironic that those who are sent to prison to be deprived of their liberties ... get access to appliances that many houses in New Zealand can't afford."

More than half the money being allocated for LCDs - $21,120 - is being spent on 11 of the televisions for inmates' viewing at the new Otago Prison. The jail has been dubbed the "Milton Hilton" by detractors.