Judith Collins

Wellington, June 27 NZPA - The Government is reportedly looking at making the nation's prisons smoke free from next year.

Corrections Minister Judith Collins was expected to announce a 12-month preparation plan, leading up to smoking being banned in prisons by next July, the Herald on Sunday reported.

The Corrections Department was concerned taxpayers could be liable for legal action from prison officers exposed to inmates' second-hand smoke an also the potential threat of lawsuits from non-smoking prisoners, bunking with prisoners who do smoke.