As most of you would have heard there was a major incident at Rimutaka prison at the weekend. I am pleased to be able to say that the feed back and response that I have received both by email and while I was on site on Sunday, has been that all the staff were very impressed with the response and actions of all the staff and managers. This includes the managers both at site level right up to the CEO.

As this riot developed, the ACR teams were activated and ready to go in a very short amount of time. This is a credit to managers being prepared to make decisions. In the past CANZ has criticised PPS for taking too long to make such decisions.

Whilst on site the day after all reports are that everything went really well and the incident was managed in a great way. I am even lead to believe that the GM Harry Hawthorn was involved in the capture of one of the prisoners that was trying to do a runner.

The support shown to staff after the incident and then the following day has been every well received by the staff and I congratulate the Site manager and his team for there efforts in looking after the staff that had to stay at the prison for the duration of the incident.

CANZ would like to point out the fact that our highly trained staff in the ACR teams did a fantastic job. It was about 40 minutes from the time they entered the building to the time the last prisoner was removed. This shows just how highly trained and skilled these staff are.

The only thing that needs to be raised with management is, if any of these staff were stabbed they had no protection. We need stab proof vests. At the very least the staff that volunteer to go into harms way to protect the security and safety of the prison should be properly equipped with both safety equipment and appropriate tools to get the job done. (ACR Teams)

CANZ is calling for the immediate start to the officer personal protection work party promised to be started last year before we had the hostage takings. New Zealand is falling behind in personal protection for staff yet the attacks on staff are on a steady increase year by year.

CANZ will continue to lobby who ever we need to get this work party started and moving.

I would like to finish on a positive and congratulate all the staff involved in the incident over the weekend. It is a credit to you all that no officer or prisoner was seriously hurt. Also it is great to both hear and see the support given to staff by management when incidents like this happen.

Kia Kaha
Beven Hanlon
On behalf of the National Officers