The Torture of Auckland's Behavioural Management Regime

From the ongoing trial for psychiatric abuse in New Zealand

Prison bosses invented a new "super maximum" security class in a hidden system that avoided normal rules for prisoners, a New Zealand High Court judge has been told.

Nine past and present prisoners say they were subject to psychological torture while being held on the "behavioural management regime" (BMR) at Auckland's Paremoremo prison, or while in solitary confinement.

Lawyer Tony Ellis began closing his case for the prisoners in Wellington yesterday.

During more than a month of evidence, prisoners said they were held in solitary for up to two years without regular review of their classification, or medical assessment, without access to natural light, or the chance to associate with other prisoners.

BMR amounted to a higher than maximum security classification, a kind of "super-maximum", Mr Ellis said.

"It is essentially a security classification that was not approved and was invented by the department."

Psychiatric evidence showed one prisoner developed post traumatic stress disorder within weeks of being put on the programme.

Mr Ellis said alleging torture was one of the most serious allegations it was possible to make, and he was trying to be responsible and not overstate the position.

The system was an experiment in behaviour modification when it began in April 1998, he said. It breached the prisoners' rights not to be subject to scientific or medical experimentation without consent.