Judith Collins

Wellington, Feb 25 NZPA - Prison staff are being given body armour, spit hoods and batons so they are equipped to manage hostile situations, Parliament was told today.

Corrections Minister Judith Collins said the Government was serious about reducing the risk faced by front line staff who managed some of the most difficult and dangerous individuals in the country.

"Tomorrow I will officially launch the rollout of stab-resistant body armour, spit hoods and batons," she said.

"The department will also begin a 12-month trial of pepper spray."

Ms Collins said the spit hoods would protect staff from saliva and blood and the batons would be used by specially trained staff as a last resort.

She said the department was currently providing all its 3000 prison staff with tactical communication training and de-escalation training.

More than a third had already been trained and as a result some highly tense situations had been safely defused, she said.