Queensland Corrective Services (QCS) can confirm a Custodial Correctional Officer was injured by a prisoner at Woodford Correctional Centre yesterday during an incident where force was required to be used.
Officers were performing a search of the prisoner when he became non-compliant and force needed to be used to restrain him.
As the prisoner was being restrained, the lashed out and struck one of the officers in the face.
The officer was assessed by medical staff but continued his shift and the prisoner was taken to the medical centre for assessment and was then taken to the Detention Unit.
The matter has been referred to the CSIU.
Prisoners who assault officers may face additional criminal charges and further prison time. They are also subject to internal disciplinary processes, including loss of privileges.
Unfortunately from time to time our officers are required to put themselves in harm’s way to ensure the safety and security of the community. We are thankful for their commitment, and for the important role they play in making Queensland safer for all of us.
Every day our officers interact with the most challenging and complex people in our society.
Officer safety is Queensland Corrective Services’ absolute priority. Every officer deserves to go home safely at the end of shift.
We take our responsibility as an employer to support our officers through appropriate training and provision of equipment, technology, and policy support very seriously, but recognise that we cannot remove all risk from the workplace due to the dynamic nature of correctional environments.
People who have been removed from society for violent or anti-social behaviour sometimes display that same behaviour in a prison environment, despite the best efforts of our officers to de-escalate situations.
When an officer is injured on duty, QCS is committed to supporting the officer and their family while they recover.
