Prisoner spits on officers because he was served a ham sandwich

Two jail officers have been spat on by a prisoner because he was served a ham sandwich instead of a halal meal. Tensions remain high at state correctional facilities amid COVID-19 visitor restrictions.

A Lotus Glen prisoner has spat on guards after a mix-up with meals at the centre.

TWO jail officers have been spat on by a prisoner because he was angry he was served a ham sandwich rather than a halal meal, it can be revealed.
The Courier-Mail has confirmed the prisoner spat on the officers yesterday after the inadvertent meal mix-up at Lotus Glen jail in Far North Queensland.

“A prisoner was being provided with a replacement meal after being inadvertently given one that did not meet his dietary requirements,” a Queensland Corrective Services spokesman said when asked for comment.

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“Two officers went to hospital for testing. There was no requirement for COVID-19 testing as the prisoner is not suspected of having COVID-19.”

After the incident the prisoner was moved to the detention unit and the matter was reported to the Corrective Services Investigation Unit of the Queensland Police Service.
It's the latest in a string of incidents at the state's jails.

In a separate incident at Woodford jail yesterday a prisoner coughed on an officer.
“QCS can confirm an officer is undergoing testing after he was coughed on by a prisoner on 21 April,” the spokesman said when asked about the incident.
“The officer was assessed at the medical centre and is having further testing.”
He said there was no need to have COVID-19 testing because the prisoner was not suspected of having coronavirus.
Incidents with prisoners are being reported daily after coronavirus measures banning visits from family and friends have agitated inmates.
There has been a riot, prisoners going on to rooftops and inmates smashing up their cells.
Officers say prisoners are agitated because they can't get drugs through visits.