Excerpt: Inspection approach
From 26 February to 1 March 2024, a team of 12 inspectors, whom I have authorised to carry out visits to places of detention under COTA on my behalf, made an unannounced five-day inspection of Christchurch Men’s Prison (the Prison). This inspection focussed on specific units within the Prison which collectively, at that time, had capacity to hold 612 prisoners out of a total Prison capacity of 826.
Inspectors were guided by my OPCAT Expectations - Corrections.
Inspectors assessed information from a number of sources including obtaining information and documents from the Prison and the Department of Corrections | Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Corrections), interviewing prisoners, visitors and staff on a one-to-one basis, and observing Prison activities. Before leaving the facility, inspectors met with Prison management to outline their initial observations.