Judith Collins

Wellington, Feb 26 NZPA - Prison staff are getting a $3.6 million package of safety equipment to help them deal with dangerous situations.

Corrections Minister Judith Collins said today they were also being given special communication and de-escalation training.

The new equipment includes 746 stab-resistant vests, and spit hoods which will shield staff from communicable diseases in blood and saliva.

New batons will be available for specially trained staff to use when all other options to gain order have been exhausted.

"While major assaults are rare, low-level assaults on staff happen almost every day at New Zealand prisons," Ms Collins said.

"The new safety measures will ensure that corrections officers have the training and the equipment to manage dangerous situations and to prevent them from arising in the first place."

She said improved offender management had already had an impact on the number of serious assaults in prisons.

During the 2008/09 financial year there were 11 serious assaults against staff that resulted in hospitalisation or ongoing medical treatment.

So far this financial year there have been none.

"It's too early to say this is a start of a trend, but this Government isn't prepared to take chances with the safety of staff," Ms Collins said.

"I hope we start to see consistently lower numbers of injuries as more of our staff make use of the new safety equipment and begin using the techniques they have learnt in de-escalation training."