Cops told to stop arresting crime as prison is full!

The Herald reports:

Some frontline police have been told to “consider necessity of arrests” in some circumstances because one of the country’s largest prisons is nearly full.

The email, seen by the Herald on Sunday, was sent to staff in Wellington on Friday.

Titled “custody of remand detainees” the email from a senior sergeant says due to Rimutaka Prison being at “near maximum occupancy”, the District Custody Unit (DCU) would begin caring for the overflow of Corrections remand detainees when required.

It warns that: “Repeat breach of bail and warrant offenders may be remanded in Police custody for a prolonged period. Arresting officers should consider this before making an arrest.”

This helps explain how violent offending has increased 42% since 2017, yet prosecutions have declined 13%, convictions declines 18% and imprisonment sentences have declined 36%.

It’s a catch and release system!