Hawke's Bay prison officers to routinely carry pepper spray

Hawke's Bay Prison Corrections officers will soon have another tool to help resolve dangerous situations. Photo/File

Hawke's Bay Regional Prison Corrections officers will soon be able to carry pepper spray on them - a change from the current law.

The Corrections Amendment Regulations come into place next month and allow trained and authorised staff to carry the spray.

Pepper spray is a chemical compound that strongly irritates the eyes and causes them to close, temporarily removing vision. It can allow officers to more easily restrain unco-operative subjects.

Under current law, pepper spray must be securely stored unless a senior officer determined it was necessary in a situation, and issued it to a trained and authorised officer. The upcoming amendment means authorised officers could carry it at all times.

Hawkes Bay prison director George Massingham said the spray would increase safety of staff and prisoners in Hawke's Bay. He made clear the spray was another tool and not necessarily the first option.

"While staff managing an incident will always use de-escalation tactics in the first instance, the amended regulations mean they will be able to consider use of pepper spray when de-escalation isn't successful, as an alternative to use of force, or in situations where there is no opportunity for staff to use de-escalation tactics."

From next month, Corrections officers can be trained in its use and be issued the spray. They would need a refresher training once a year. Security officers and other staff would not be permitted to carry it.

Corrections Association national president Alan Whitley said it was a sensible, modern step which would help reduce injuries.

"We're pleased. We've been advocating this for some time," Whitley said.

"It's time that we had something else. Needing physical force [for incidents], someone's going to get injured - sometimes it's us, sometimes it's a prisoner. It's time we moved away from that and modernise[d]."

He said there would be strong oversight and scrutiny of its use.

Corrections Minister Louise Upston said the change was to increase staff and prisoner safety.

"It is crucial that Corrections staff are able to immediately control spontaneous and potentially dangerous situations to keep themselves and prisoners safe inside prisons and during escorts," Upston says.

"Pepper spray is a safe tactical option with a lower risk of injury compared with other means of force. It adds to the range of safety measures and tools rolled out in the past few years under the Corrections staff safety programme."