1 May 2015
Corrections officers to get new body armour
All frontline Corrections officers are to get new lightweight stab-resistant body armour, Corrections Minister Peseta
Sam Lotu-Iiga has announced.
As part of the Corrections Staff Safety Programme, 3,500 stab-resistant vests are to be rolled out to all frontline
custodial staff from next month.
"While stabbing incidents involving frontline staff are low, it is a priority for our government to keep our Corrections
officers safe," Mr Lotu-Iiga says.
"The new body armour is lighter, less bulky and more comfortable than our current stab-resistant body armour (SRBA). The
armour is also designed to be used in conjunction with on-body cameras which are being rolled out.”
The new body armour is designed for use in high-risk prison environments. The provision of personal-issue SRBA for all
frontline custodial staff means all officers will have a vest available when they are working in these environments.
"Corrections officers work in challenging and often high-risk conditions. They keep the public safe and our prisoners
secure," Mr Lotu-Iiga says.
This investment builds on other initiatives already in place to improve the safety of Corrections staff. These include
the availability of batons in some circumstances, pepper spray and spit hoods. Staff are also trained in de-escalation
techniques and interpersonal and tactical communications skills.
ends