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National | Corrections

Kelvin Davis accuses Minister of Corrections of lying

"The Minister of Corrections is lying."  That's the claim of Labour's corrections spokesperson Kelvin Davis after the Minister insisted that he was not made aware of fight clubs within prisons until last week.

Fists were flying in prison.  But the hardest blow came from Kelvin Davis.  “He's lying!” says Davis.

That assertion from Kelvin Davis after the Minister of Corrections stated that he wasn't previously made aware of fight clubs at Mount Eden Prison in Auckland.

Davis says, “I don't buy it.  I don't believe the Minister because this official report was tabled long ago and it was seen and verified by his officials.  His officials must have shown it to the Minister.”

This has all come to light after footage of prison fights were recently put online.

Davis thinks there is something fishy afoot.

“If the country saw what was going on, that there are fight clubs going on, then there would be outrage and Serco could lose their contract,” says Davis.

He feels there is only one appropriate course of action.

“The Minister needs to resign.  His bosses need to resign, his officials all need to resign.”

The Minister of Corrections didn't want to refute Kelvin Davis' claims on camera, but in a statement to us said he, "Became aware of the report's existence only late last week."

Lotu-liga says that Serco has been put on notice over the incidents.