Is Kalyx suitable to run Auckland prisons?

A UK company with a troubled history wants to run Auckland’s remand prison. John Key’s Government should reconsider its decision to shortlist the company, said the Green Party today.

Kalyx, formerly known as UK Detention Services, announced last week that it has been shortlisted to run Mt Eden-Auckland Central Remand Prison.

“Kalyx was the subject of a damning report on how it ran the Harmondsworth Detention Centre and it was fined £5 million pounds. There have also been ongoing concerns with the high levels of violence and drug abuse at HM Addiewell prison, which Kalyx currently runs,” said Green Party Corrections spokesperson David Clendon.

“Is this company suitable to run Auckland’s remand prison? John Key’s Government needs to review its decision to shortlist this company, and more broadly, its advocacy for private prisons.”


Harmondsworth Detention Centre had two riots while it was being run by Kalyx. In 2006, the Chief Inspector of Prisons, published a highly critical report on how Harmondsworth was run. It concluded that:

the centre was not performing satisfactorily against any of the Inspectorate’s tests of a healthy custodial environment.

“Private prisons have to make a profit, which means, either cut backs on staffing levels and rehabilitation, or charging more per prisoner, as we saw with the Auckland remand prison last time it was privately run,” said Mr Clendon.

HM Addiewell prison is also run by Kalyx, and in 2009 it was reported as being the worst prison in Scotland for violent attacks, and there have been reports of high levels of drug use.

“The international evidence shows that the Government needs to seriously reconsider its policy of getting private corporations to run our prisons.

“If we create prison environments that are more violent this will create more problems for all of society,” said Mr Clendon.

Further information
“Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre - Serious Concerns”, Anne Owers, Chief Inspector of Prisons press release, 28 November 2006. <http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:Ms_ZknwfF28J:press.homeoffice.gov.uk/press-releases/harmondsworth-serious concerns%3Fversion%3D1+harmondsworth+poorest+report&cd=9&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=nz>

Report on an unannounced inspection of Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre, 17–21 July 2006, by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, http://www.justice.gov.uk/inspectorates/hmi-prisons/docs/harmondsworth1-rps.pdf

Addiewell: After riots leave two guards injured, critics warn of cash constraints in private prisons, Edinburgh Evening News, 28 January 2010. http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/Addiewell-After-riots-leave-two.6021833.jp

Private Corrections Working Group, summary of coverage of Kalyx available at http://www.privateci.org/rap_sodexho.html