PRISON BOSS 'PART OF DRUG RING'

A senior prison manager charged with dealing cannabis to inmates was
running one of the toughest units in Rimutaka, and an alleged
accomplice is a career criminal who once beat a guard.

Jeffrey Mark Reid, 43, was arrested on Thursday and charged along with
three prisoners and two women outside the wire following a month-long
investigation, Operation Wire.

Police say Reid was part of a fledgling drug ring that was growing
cannabis outside the prison and smuggling it inside to give to inmates.

They do not believe any cannabis was grown on prison
grounds.

Reid was a unit manager, in charge of Unit HM7 and 8, a high-security
section known to house a lot of gang members. He is a veteran of about
20 years in Corrections but has now been suspended from his job.

He appeared in Wellington District Court on Thursday charged with
selling cannabis to Matthew Kidman, who sparked a two-day manhunt last
November when he skipped bail on firearms charges.

He escaped from Hawke's Bay Prison in 2004 while serving a six-year
sentence for aggravated robbery, and once beat a prison guard during
another botched escape attempt.

Kidman, two other prisoners and the two women will appear in court on
Wednesday.

Reid was also charged with conspiring to sell cannabis and cultivating
cannabis. He was remanded without plea, on bail, and will reappear on
June 15.

Together, the six people face more than 20 supply, conspiracy and
cultivation charges.

Six children were referred to Child, Youth and Family after being
found in homes raided during the investigation.

Guards inside Rimutaka Prison were told of Reid's arrest at a meeting
on Thursday. A source said they were shocked because Reid was high up
in prison management.

"He's a unit manager, no one searches him," said the source. "He can
walk in loaded with dope. Who is going to search him?"

Reid's Cuba St apartment and prison office were searched this week,
along with addresses in Wellington and Hutt Valley and other areas
inside the prison.

The arrests come 18 months after an inquiry found no systemic
corruption at Rimutaka. It followed complaints from staff that a group
of guards known as "the bro club" was smuggling in drugs, cellphones
and food for prisoners.

At the time, 11 guards were suspended while the allegations were
investigated.

Corrections Minister Judith Collins has asked for a report but said
yesterday she was confident drug use was not rampant within Rimutaka.

"It is correct to say there is no systemic corruption," she said.
"It's a prison full of criminals, and I think people should realise
that."

Corrections chief executive Barry Matthews said Reid's arrest did not
reflect the work of most prison guards.