Prison guards attacked by inmates

Two guards were assaulted without warning by two prisoners while carrying out their regular duties at Hawke's Bay Regional Prison today. File photo / Hawke's Bay Today

Two prison staff are in hospital after they were attacked by two teenage inmates in the Hawke's Bay Regional Prison's youth unit today.

Two 17-year-old male inmates approached the staff while they were carrying out their normal duties and attacked them without warning about midday, Department of Corrections chief executive Ray Smith said.

The staff members received non-life threatening injuries and were being treated in hospital.

"The situation was managed extremely well, and extremely quickly by staff," Mr Smith said.

"I am very proud of the skill staff demonstrated in resolving the situation as quickly as they did and without further incident."

He said the department would not tolerate attacks on staff.

"We are appalled by this behaviour and the prisoners involved will be held to account for their actions."

He said the attack in the youth unit, which is separate from the main prison site and surrounded by two perimeter fences, posed no risk to the public.

Mr Smith said the department did not no why the staff were attacked and the department would be carrying out an investigation to determine exactly what happened.

He said prison staff worked in an "extremely challenging work environment" and dealt with "some of society's most dangerous and unpredictable people on a daily basis".

Mr Smith was travelling to meet with the staff in hospital.

- NZPA