Christchurch prison staff check cells for weapon

Staff at Christchurch Men's Prison are scouring cells in search of a weapon that could have been used to stab an inmate.

Police said the prisoner was taken to Christchurch Hospital with serious injuries after the assault about 9.30am yesterday.

Corrections Association president Beven Hanlon said three men had launched a pack attack on a lone prisoner.

Prison staff had one unit in lock-down and were trying to piece together what happened, he said.

Mr Hanlon said a string of violent attacks in prisons around the country were putting workers at risk.

Days before yesterday's incident, an inmate at Rimutaka Prison tried to stab a staff member with a 30cm piece of steel.

Mr Hanlon said prison staff should have access to Tasers, protective vests and pepper spray.

His call has been backed by the Labour Party, which this morning said stab-proof vests and pepper spray should be issued to all Corrections officers to keep them safe from an "epidemic" of serious prison assaults.

"There have been five days of violence across the country from Napier to Christchurch," Labour's Corrections spokesman Kelvin Davis said.

"Two prisoners from separate prisons are in hospital with life-threatening injuries after being attacked by a number of inmates. Guards at another prison have been assaulted by an inmate with a 30cm long piece of metal.

"It is clear that Corrections officers intervened quickly, putting their own safety at risk when at least one inmate was stabbed.

"All the Corrections officers are asking for are the same tools as the police to do their job. Pepper spray would have been effective in stopping the attacks as well as keeping guards safe.

"At the moment, Corrections officers have no protection aside from their cotton uniforms and it is only a matter of time before a guard is seriously injured or killed."

Police yesterday said investigations into the Christchurch incident were ongoing.
- with additional reporting by NewstalkZB