A custodial correctional officer will undergo testing for blood borne diseases following an incident at Lotus Glen Correctional Centre where he was bitten by a prisoner.
Officers were unlocking the safety unit this morning when the prisoner suddenly lunged at them, biting the officer on the hand.
The officer was treated at the scene and will attend hospital for testing.
The prisoner then reopened an injury from a recent self-harm incident, causing considerable bleeding. His wounds are being treated at the prison health centre.
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.
New legislation passed by Parliament in July increased the maximum penalty for serious assault on a corrective services officer with aggravating circumstances in line with assaulting a police officer and other front-line service officers.
Aggravating circumstances include biting, spitting and throwing bodily materials, and the offence now carries a maximum penalty of 14 years.
Queensland Corrective Services is a front-line public safety agency and our officers interact with the most challenging and complex people in our society 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.
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.
When an officer is injured on duty, QCS is committed to supporting the officer and their family while they recover.
