Mob bashes Wellington prison guards

Prison guards have called for armed response teams to protect them after two guards were badly beaten by a mob of Rimutaka inmates.

The Corrections Department said yesterday it was taking the "cowardly and unprovoked assault" extremely seriously. It was considering stab-proof vests for guards, but was cautious about giving staff weapons that could be used against them.

Rimutaka Prison is in Upper Hutt.

Two Rimutaka Prison guards were treated at hospital on Tuesday night after the attack and are recovering at home.

One guard was attacked by five prisoners, who dragged him into the laundry and beat him. They then assaulted another guard who came to help.

The Dominion Post has been told that the unit where the attack took place has three guards to 60 inmates.

The third guard was required to remain in the control room and guards from other parts of the prison had to come to help their colleagues.

The prison guards' union said violence against prisoners and guards was increasing and called for an urgent review of staff safety.

There have been 67 assaults - mostly minor - on guards in New Zealand prisons in the past financial year, up from 31 the year before.

Figures from previous years show Rimutaka is one of the most dangerous prisons. In July, a Rimutaka guard was so badly beaten with a broom that he remains in hospital with serious head and eye injuries.

Corrections Association president Beven Hanlon said the latest attack would have been "absolutely terrifying" for the guards.

"They gave them a very bad beating. They were covered in blood."

Guards were also concerned about the number of prisoners attacking other prisoners.

"We have to go in and stop these things happening because that's our job. We've got to step up entirely unarmed."

Mr Hanlon said he wanted an urgent review of staff safety and better tools for the job. Prisons overseas had response units armed with tear gas, pepper spray, batons and dogs.

Corrections southern assistant regional manager Liz Nielsen said yesterday that the department took staff safety seriously. "One assault is one too many."

The department had done a lot to improve staff safety and was investigating measures such as stab-proof vests. But she said such equipment could make prisons more confrontational.

"We need to think carefully before introducing items such as pepper spray or Tasers, which could be used against staff."

Police and Corrections are investigating the attack.

The Rimutaka incident comes after inmates at Christchurch Men's prison fashioned a pipe-gun and attacked prison buildings and vehicles on Monday.

The prison went into lockdown and police were called to resolve the incident, which was thought to have been triggered by outrage at a random contraband search.

- © Fairfax NZ News