Assaults on the rise in prison
With assaults in Manawatu Prison on the rise, instructors working at the site are now required to wear stab proof body armour while teaching.
Information released under the Official Information Act has revealed an increase of inmate on inmate assaults in Manawatu and Whanganui prisons between 2014 and 2015.
Manawatu Prison serious assaults increased from two to three in that period, while Whanganui Prison saw its first serious assault occur in the past two financial years.
In the same timeframe Manawatu Prison had 16 non-serious injuries, up on the 14 in the previous period, while Whanganui had 20 - an increase of six.
Seventeen no-injury assaults took place in Manawatu Prison in 2014-2015, up from 11 in the previous period, while Whanganui Prison had eight no-injury assaults, a drop of eight.
In 2015 Corrections made it compulsory for all frontline custodial staff to wear stab resistant body armour. This rule has since been expanded to include offender employment instructors, who work with inmates to improve their work habits, work experiences and skills.
A spokesperson said Corrections took the issue of violence in prisons extremely seriously and safety for all was a priority.
‘‘A range of resources are used to investigate assault claims, including CCTV footage, staff and prisoner information, and witness accounts. Prisoners who allege assault are checked over by the health team, who assess for injuries and determine whether hospital or other medical treatment is required.
‘‘Prisoners who allege assault can lay a formal complaint with police. Incidents involving prisoners are followed up with a disciplinary procedure, if prison rules are broken or a crime committed.’’
In October 2015 a Whanganui Prison inmate was taken to Wellington Hospital after an assault in prison.
At the time police said Corrections staff found the inmate injured in his cell.
The man had been taken to Whanganui Hospital for treatment, but was transferred to Wellington Hospital for specialist care after receiving serious head injuries. In March 2016 three men were arrested and faced charges of wounding with intent to injure.
A serious assault is categorised as an act of violence involving sexual assault or bodily harm requiring medical intervention followed by hospitalisation or on-going medical intervention.
The Corrections spokesperson said a violence reduction panel had been set up in Manawatu Prison. It focused on all incidents of violence, assaults, bullying and unexplained injuries to identify and manage perpetrators, protect victims and bullying ‘hotspots’. Its overall aim was to reduce the number of incidents of violence and bullying.