Lotus Glen: Prison officer drenched in bodily fluids from high risk inmate
A prison officer was allegedly doused in urine in a sickening attack at Lotus Glen, with the union slamming the state’s correctional body for failing to protect its workers.
Cairns
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THE union for prison officers at a Far North jail has slammed the state’s correctional body for failing to protect its workers after a guard was allegedly doused in urine from a high risk inmate in a sickening attack.
A custodial prison officer will need ongoing medical tests for blood born disease after a prisoner at the Mareeba-based facility threw a cup of his own bodily fluids at him.
The urine entered the guard’s mouth and eyes, something staff and the Together Queensland union have been trying to prevent with the implementation of safety screens.
Queensland Corrective Services general manager, chief superintendent Gabby Payne, confirmed the officer was receiving medical treatment.
The same guard had earlier intervened on the inmate’s attempt to self-harm.
“The responding officers managed to prevent the prisoner from further injuring himself,” Ch Supt Payne said.
“Disappointingly, whilst the prisoner was under observation by officers, he threw a cup of liquid on one of the officers who had just assisted him.”
Ch Supt Payne said the prisoner was restrained and the officer was immediately assessed by medics at the prison.
He then sought further treatment outside the centre.
“We’re offering the officer every possible support,” she said.
Together’s corrections assistant branch secretary Michael Thomas said the incident was not an isolated event.
“That’s another assault that has occurred through the disgusting throwing of bodily fluids at an officer,” he said.
“And this has happened before.
“Our members fully support the work being done by health and safety reps to put controls in place so this does not happen again.
“They have been asking for safety screens for some time.”
It comes as prisons across the state, including Lotus Glen, are bursting at the seams with inmates, according to Mr Thomas, resulting in a spike in assaults.
He said it was the duty of QCS to treat their staff like “every other employer has to.”
“Corrections centers in Queensland have the highest number of prisoners they have ever had,” he said.
“This is putting extreme pressures on the system and is resulting in a higher number of assaults, and that includes prisoner on prisoner and prisoner on staff.”
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Originally published as Lotus Glen: Prison officer drenched in bodily fluids from high risk inmate
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