Young offenders have shared transport with adult prisoners more than 5,000 times in less than two years, government figures show.

A damning report into the transportation of prisoners is a fitting tribute to murder victim Liam Ashley, his family has said. The report by Chief Ombudsman John Belgrave and Ombudsman Mel Smith was instigated after the 17-year-old was battered to death by fellow prisoner George Baker in the back of a prison van in August 2006 Auckland New Zealand. It found the Department of Corrections failed in its fundamental responsibility to keep Liam safe. In other words....evidence adults should be separated from Juvenile prisoners.