Ngawha Prison guards may not get to wear bullet and knife-proof vests the Corrections Department plans to buy after assaults on guards last year increased nationally to an average of one a day.
A prison guards' union chief has claimed the vests will not be issued to guards unless they accept department plans to introduce double-bunking so prisons hold more inmates.
Corrections is reported to be seeking tenders from companies to provide up to 850 of the vests at $1000-$1500 each.
Northland Region Corrections Facility (Ngawha Prison) manager Jonathan Howe said the stab-resistant body armour would provide protection from standard handgun ammunition, knives and spiked weapons.
"It is similar to equipment provided to New Zealand Police," he said.
The protective vests are expected to be issued to maximum-security officers and dog handlers this year, with the rest to be shared by about 4000 officers in New Zealand's 20 prisons.
Mr Howe said between 30 and 40 vests would be made available to staff at Ngawha Prison, who would use them:
When undertaking the planned control and restraint of a prisoner.
During high-risk escorts.
At vehicle checkpoints when searching visitors and their cars for contraband items.
Patrolling external perimeters of the site.
When deploying advanced control and restrain teams or tactical response teams.
Mr Howe said full use of spit hoods - introduced to avoid risks of diseased prisoners contaminating prison guards - and pepper spray was subject to amending legislation.
Corrections Association of New Zealand prison guard union president Beven Hanlon said if prison staff did not accept double-bunking they would not be getting the protective vests. It was disappointing that issuing safety gear to prison guards was not considered until after an attack.
"Police get safety gear because of the possibility they will encounter a violent offender - which a prison guard does every day.
"This is one of the reasons why we're opposed to double-bunking. The job is pretty dangerous now and we don't want the risks to increase."
Staff safety was reactive rather than proactive. Spit hoods could be put on prisoners only after they had spat mucus and possibly blood at guards, Mr Hanlon said.
Mr Howe said prisons which would have an increased level of double-bunking, including the Northland Region Corrections Facility, would have priority for the use of stab-resistant body armour and other protective equipment.
Ngawha 'may miss out' on safety vests
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