Prison guard’s broken nose and jaw far from isolated assault incidents

KAIKOHE: A union says an attack on a Corrections officer at a Northland prison facility which left them with significant facial injuries is not an isolated incident.

The Corrections Association of New Zealand understands guards at the Kahu Unit at Ngawha Prison, near Kaikohe, were unlocking prisoners from cells when the ‘‘unprovoked attack’’ occurred.

Association vicepresident Paul Dennehy said the officer suffered ‘‘significant facial injuries’’, which he believes included a broken nose and jaw.

He said this was not an isolated incident, and figures released under the Official Information Act obtained by the union showed violent attacks were on the rise.

‘‘Assaults on staff across the whole country have been on the rise for several years,’’ he said.

He was not sure of staffing levels at the prison when the incident took place, but he said understaffing was an issue across New Zealand prisons.

Mr Dennehy said many attacks on staff were unprovoked.

‘‘We don’t know it’s going to happen.

‘‘We could be talking with a prisoner, the next thing that prisoner or another prisoner blindsides us and attacks.

‘‘We’ve got no way of mitigating or defending ourselves immediately.’’

The association had pushed for prisoners to be held accountable for actions that go against the rules

‘‘They should be held accountable, but increasingly, we’re finding that’s not the case.

‘‘They can be noncompliant, they can be assaultive, they can be verbally threatening, they can be physically attacking us.

‘‘There are very few legal consequences, within the prison or with police charging them,’’ Mr Dennehy said.

‘‘We work very hard to help rehabilitate prisoners, because one day they are going to be our neighbours.’’

Northland Region Corrections Facility prison director Michael Rongo said the attack was ‘‘unprovoked and cowardly’’.

He said other Corrections officers responded quickly to bring the situation under control and the prisoner was initially moved to the prison’s management unit.

‘‘He has since been transferred to Auckland Prison to be managed as a maximum security prisoner.

‘‘Police have been advised and will determine any criminal charges being laid against the prisoner.’’

The officer who was assaulted received attention from onsite health staff before being taken to hospital.

Mr Rongo said he and his family were receiving support.

A review into the assault had been commissioned.

‘‘No assault or violent behaviour is tolerated, and any prisoner who resorts to this behaviour will be held to account, which can include police charges.’’

Mr Rongo said there were no staff shortages at the prison and unprovoked attacks could occur at any time.

‘‘While Corrections considers no assault to be acceptable, we acknowledge the reality that these incidents do occur.

‘‘Over 75% of the prison population have convictions for violence in their offending histories, and gang members are disproportionately identified as responsible for assaults in prison.

‘‘Our staff recognise the importance of knowing and understanding people in prison, and actively engage with them to reinforce positive behaviour.

‘‘We have invested significantly in training and tools to keep our people safe.’’

Corrections said there were 18 serious assaults on staff in prisons in the 201920 financial year. — RNZ

❛ Assaults on staff across the whole country have been on the rise for several years