Five guards hurt in Northland Prison riot

Fifteen prisoners overcame five guards at Northland Prison near Kaihohe today, Parliament has been told.

One prison officer suffered a suspected fractured shoulder, Parliament was told.

Labour's corrections spokesman Clayton Cosgrove quizzed Corrections Minister Judith Collins over the incident, in which which he claimed bones were broken and other serious injuries were received.

Mr Cosgrove linked it to prisoners sharing cells, but Ms Collins played down the incident saying it was sparked by a change in routine at the prison.

Prisoners had been made to eat meals in the dining area rather than in their cells.

"Unfortunately, a number of staff received minor injuries. The most serious injury is a suspected fractured shoulder," Ms Collins said.

TVNZ reported that the five guards, including two women, were lucky to be alive after they were attacked for five minutes.

They said the unit housed 60 prisoners and the fighting broke out after one inmate was found trying to smuggle food back into his cell.

It reported that one of the female guards dislocated her shoulder and fractured her arm after she was pushed into a bunk.

Mr Cosgrove said another female officer was kicked and punched.

"Three other male officers were also attacked in this incident, they talk of trying to fight their way to freedom and protect their fellow officers." Mr Cosgrove said.

"As they fended off one prisoner another would attack. All three officers were overwhelmed and knocked to the ground. They received serious bruises and cuts from the attack. It is believed that one has a broken nose."

Mr Cosgrove said the Government was not doing enough to protect prison officers.

The Corrections Association called for its guard members to be armed.

Meanwhile, Ms Collins welcomed a clampdown on razor blades in high-security units, saying it would improve safety and save lives.

Prisoners would be issued with a safety razor on request, which they would be allowed to keep for up to an hour. It would then be collected, checked and disposed of.

Action would be taken if a razor was not returned, or it was returned with missing blades.

"At least two prisoners have died from razor blade injuries and many more prisoners and corrections officers have been hurt by razor blades," Ms Collins said.

"This commonsense new policy restricts access to razor blades by prisoners who are most likely to use them to inflict injury on themselves or others."

In 2007, there were 272 razor blade incidents in prisons.

- NZPA