a significant number of remand prisoners spending extended periods locked in their cells, not involved in purposeful activities.21 At the end of June 2017, 752 prisoners were female. The increase in the female population has resulted in the decommissioned top jail at Rimutaka Prison (Wellington) being reopened to accommodate lowsecurity women. We will continue to closely monitor conditions for women and remand prisoners over the coming year. Corrections has acknowledged the growing prison population and advises extra capacity has been added through double bunking and reopening units, as well as planning new facilities. Levels of violence During recent inspections, Prison Directors reported concerns around levels of violence. There was a perception amongst both staff and prisoners that levels of violence had increased, which some staff attributed to the use of new psychoactive substances. Responses from our prisoner questionnaire continue to suggest that a significant number of prisoners do not report assaults. Corrections acknowledges that violence occurs in prisons and states procedures are in place when assaults are reported, as well as a tool to help officers assess the overall level of tension in units. Table 4: Prisoner questionnaire results – safety20 Hawke’s Bay Spring Hill Christchurch Men’s Prison Muster on the day of inspection 676 969 897 Number of questionnaires handed out 646 854 853 Number of questionnaires completed & returned 442 (68%) 562 (66%) 534 (63%) % of prisoners surveyed who reported being assaulted at that prison 46% 37% 49% Number of responses: (204) (203) (248) % of prisoners assaulted who did not report the assault at the time 66% 65% 73% Number of responses: (134) (134) (174) % of prisoners surveyed who had felt unsafe in current prison 60% 54% 67% Number of responses: (265) (300) (504) 29% 48% 25% Number of responses: (133) (135) (501) % of prisoners surveyed who felt they had been victimised in this prison 53% 53% 61% Number of responses: (235) (290) (308) % of prisoners surveyed who felt they had a member of staff they can turn to 71% 65% 70% Number of responses: (315) (337) (498) % of prisoners surveyed who felt unsafe at the time of inspection 16 Human Rights Commission