A u-turn from Labour.

The Party says it'll dump its 2018 target of reducing the prison population by 30 percent within 15 years.

It says the crisis has been averted and a target's no longer needed.

National Party Corrections spokesperson Mark Mitchell says it's an extraordinary change.

He says it's been Labour's core justice policy for the past 6 years.

"At the same time, they had no plans to keep the public safe. And we've seen just a tsunami of violent crime and disorder in our country over the last 6 years."

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