Agencies really need to start talking to each other

Stuff reports:

Murderer and sex offender Phillip Smith swindled $26,700 in student living costs while housed at public expense in prison.

The Ministry for Social Development has confirmed it has been trying to recover the payments. But Department of Corrections officials were unaware of the scam until yesterday.

Can we have a new rule.

If a prisoner is in trouble with any other state agency, then that agency should let Corrections know.

Incredible.