Corrections has moved swiftly to confiscate a cellphone from a Rimutaka Prison inmate who was posting videos to YouTube from inside the prison.
One video depicted an inmate tattooing the leg of the man taking the video. The video claims it is a Mongrel Mob tattoo.
Three videos have been posted by the account in the past week. All appear to be filmed inside the prison.
"Temm Dogg blasting heavy metal with the dogs in prison" one of the videos is called. Another shows the inmate rapping in his cell and the other depicts the tattoo.
Both the cellphone and the tattoo gun are contraband.
Corrections moved swiftly to remove the cell phone after becoming aware of the video.
Neil Beales, Chief Custodial Officer, told Newshub Corrections became aware of the video at 9:15am on Tuesday. By 10am, it had secured two prisoners in the yard and a search operation was underway.
The tattoo gun shown in one video had already been removed on Monday, Corrections told Newshub.
"In total, four prisoners were identified. The prisoners are being held to account for their behaviour," Corrections said.
"All four were relocated to the management unit and are being charged with misconduct. Today, two of the prisoners have been moved from the prison, with plans being made to relocate the other two."
The prisoners will be charged through Corrections' internal misconduct system, with charges heard by a Visiting Justice. They could face sanctions, such as cell confinement, losing access to telephone calls or visits in excess of their minimum entitlement.
Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis says he's not impressed.
"To have five gang members in a cell chanting gang chants, covering windows, tattooing each other is totally unacceptable. I expect Corrections to deal with this and make sure there's not a repeat.
"I want to know how it was this could occur."
National's Corrections spokesperson, David Bennett, told Newshub prisoners are taking advantage of a Government they think is soft on crime.
"The Minister said he is going to be strong on [contraband]... We are not seeing any action. Prisoner are getting the wrong idea that they can get away with this."
Corrections says it uses cellphone blocking technology but that changes to technology mean blocking is an "ongoing challenge".
Newshub.
