Hair Apparent Cut Off In His Prime

Illawarra Mercury

Saturday February 15, 2003

THE NSW Opposition struck trouble yesterday when it called for the banning of gang-style haircuts in prisons as part of its corrective services policy.

According to prison authorities, such haircuts don't exist.

Opposition Leader John Brogden believes clamping down on hair styles will help clean up the State's prisons.

``It's a growing and genuinely concerning problem in our jail system, so if in any way we can remove the badges of a gang, the marks of a gang, we will do so," he said.

Mr Brogden said prisoners did not have the right to choose their own haircuts in jail.

But NSW Corrective Services Commissioner Ron Woodham said gang-style haircuts do not exist in prisons.

He said gang members were usually identified by tattoos and clothing.