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Lawrence Smith / Stuff
An inmate was able to get out of his cell at the Auckland prison in Paremoremo and injured two staff members.
An inmate in a maximum security compound in Auckland prison managed to open his cell door and attack two Corrections staff, leaving one seriously injured.
Regional Commissioner Lynette Cave called the assault, which occurred Saturday night, “unprovoked and without guts.”
Cave said that shortly after 8 pm, night staff at the Paremoremo prison, north of Auckland, noticed that one of the cell doors was damaged.
Two staff members went to take a closer look and were attacked by a prisoner who was able to gain access to the hallway by damaging and opening his cell door.
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Additional personnel negotiated with the prisoner while others prepared to use force to secure him, Cave said.
“The prisoner complied with the instructions and was transferred handcuffed to another cell where he was searched and secured in the nude.”
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One of the staff members was seriously injured and is still in hospital, Cave said. She would remain off work while recovering and was being supported by her managers and colleagues.
The second officer was seen by a prison nurse before going home and returned to work the next day.
Cave said they were also supporting him.
Two separate checks were now underway to find out how the prisoner was able to get out of his cell.
The cell doors were designed to withstand a considerable amount of damage, Cave said, and it was necessary to investigate how the damage might have occurred to prevent it from happening again.
The two reviews included an operational review by the Director of Custody and a facilities review led by asset manager Cushman Wakefield, who financed, designed, built and now maintains the prison.
During the incident, Cave said there was no risk to public safety, as there were various levels of security in the prison.
The prisoner involved was already being held in a highly restricted regime of segregation led by a pattern of assault on staff and bad behavior, Cave said.
Despite this, the staff have been actively working with him to encourage him to improve his mental well-being.
“He will continue to be held accountable for his actions and the police have been informed.”
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In July 2020, a new maximum security wing was opened at the prison.
The officers involved in the incident did an “exceptional and courageous job,” Cave said.
“Corrections officers come to work every day to protect New Zealanders.
“They work in extremely challenging circumstances with some of the most dangerous, difficult and sickest people in New Zealand.”
