The company managing Mt Eden prison has been fined $150,000 after an escape from the facility.
Serco
has copped the fine after Aaron Forden was the first inmate to break
out of the new Mt Eden Corrections Facility on October 10.
Forden, dubbed "Houdini" for his serial escapes from custody, was recaptured after a week on the run.
A
joint review by the Department of Corrections, which owns the prison,
and Serco, the British-based company which operates it, found there were
security shortcomings.
Department of Corrections chief executive Ray Smith says improvements had been made after the review.
Staff supervision and monitoring had been beefed up as well as changes to the facility's security.
Serco's
contract to manage the prison includes a performance-related payment
and it needs to meet all of pre-determined standards to get the full
amount.
Under the contract it is liable for a $150,000 penalty for
an escape and Mr Smith says this will be deducted from the next payment
to the company.
Serco Asia Pacific managing director Paul Mahoney says it took the escape seriously.
"I
am confident that the joint review into the escape has been thorough
and endorses the action we have both taken so far," he said.
NZN