Mayor responds to Parole Board hearing

Published on 02 July 2014

2 July 2014

Mayor Annette Main said she has been advised that the Parole Board today declined Mr Wilson’s application for parole.

The next parole hearing will be in three months’ time. Mr Wilson has previously been held on parole under strict conditions in a house in the grounds of Whanganui Prison at Kaitoke.

“The reality is that Mr Wilson must be released from prison some time and as a society we understand that there must be a system which enables those who commit crimes to be reintegrated,” Mayor Main said.

“Although parole has been declined this time, we know it is possible that when he is eventually released from prison Mr Wilson will return to the house in the Whanganui Prison grounds under extremely strict conditions.

“While we do not have any ability to prevent a person being paroled into our community, we are determined that we will continue to ensure our community is safe, and that Wanganui will be a safe place to live, to work and to raise our families.

“We also know that when released previously on parole, the commitment we were given by the Department of Corrections was demonstrated when his breach of a parole condition meant he was swiftly returned to prison.”

The community safety group, formed by the Mayor and led by Cr Philippa Baker-Hogan following a previous decision to place Mr Wilson in the prison house, involves the local community and support agencies who encourage anyone experiencing family safety concerns to seek support.

Support agencies

It’s OK to ask for help. People who are experiencing concerns about family safety are encouraged to contact the following agencies:

Agencies offering 24/7 support:
Police, phone 111
Women’s Refuge Whanganui, phone 344 2204

Other support services:
Whanganui Safe & Free: healing and preventing sexual abuse in our community, phone 343 3416
Family Works, phone 345 6681
Relationships Aotearoa, phone 348 0027