The first group of detainees from Christmas Island has arrived in Auckland.
Police and Department of Corrections representatives met the offenders on arrival and put them through a rigorous induction process to ensure community safety. This chartered flight touched down at Auckland International Airport with 12 deportees on board.
Police Superintendent, John Tims says, “A whole lot of information was obtained from the returning offenders DNA and finger prints are obtained and from that we can then make a risk assessment.”
Meanwhile, Labour's Kelvin Davis says he has concerns for their well-being and is planning to meet with the deportees this week. He says, “Their arrival here comes with no work, no money, no food or shelter.”
Earlier this week, Parliament went into urgency to pass legislation which allows police to seek fingerprints and DNA to deal with detainees from Australia.
The detainees may have served time in Australian correction facilities, but the NZ Department of Corrections wouldn't comment on any offending done in the past because of privacy reasons.
Jeanette Burns of Department of Corrections says, “Some of the offenders will be issued supervision orders which will enable corrections to monitor them closely as I said as we do other offenders who've come out on conditions.”
Davis added, “If they aren't given any assistance, they could potentially reoffend. That's my concern.”
Another group of detainees is expected to arrive next week.