Officer assaulted at Townsville Women’s Correctional Centre

Townsville prison officers have called for new safety measures after another staff member was assaulted this week. Read what happened.

Townsville Correctional Centre officers are reeling after another staff member was allegedly assaulted this week.

The alleged assault has sparked calls for increased security measures in secure units, after the staff member was punched in the face while delivering medication to a prisoner at the Townsville Women’s Correctional Centre.

This comes after a number of staff also lifted the lid on serious cultural and safety issues within the prison in November.

Sources told the Townsville Bulletin that prison officers have to open the cell door to give medication in the secure unit, opening up staff to assaults.

Officers have called for food hatches to be installed in the secure unit to make it safer for staff delivering medication to inmates.

Tour of the Townsville Correctional Centre and Townsville Women's Correctional Centre. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Sources have told the Bulletin the prisoner was on a safety order, which means they were required to be separated from other prisoners.

They also said Queensland Corrective Services has refused to pay for meal hatches in the secure accommodation.

Inside the Townsville Women's Correctional Centre. Picture: Zak Simmonds

The source said the assault could have been avoided with the meal hatches.

However, QCS told the Bulletin new hatches would be installed across the state.

‘This year the Queensland Government committed $6.7m in funding to install an additional 1,000 hatches across Queensland correctional centres,” a spokesman said in a statement.

He confirmed an officer has allegedly been assaulted by a prisoner at Townsville Women’s Correctional Centre on Wednesday.

“The officer received medical treatment,” the spokesman said.

“Queensland Corrective Services is supporting the officer, their family and correctional centre staff.

Townsville Correctional Centre. Picture: Alix Sweeney

“Queensland Police are investigating the matter and as such, it would not be appropriate to provide further comment.”

This assault comes after an officer was assaulted in the men’s secure unit in late November.

The officer was seriously injured after being struck in the face multiple times.

The prisoner was relocated to the detention unit.

In November the Bulletin published multiple claims about overcrowding and staffing issues that sources say were leading to more assaults on prison officers.

Sources told the Bulletin management were making decisions that were impacting the safety of staff and prisoners.

Originally published as Officer assaulted at Townsville Women’s Correctional Centre