Inmates who assault prison staff face being handcuffed for months under new reforms proposed by the Opposition

There have been more than 440 attacks on prison staff over the past year. Victoria’s Opposition says this now needs to happen.

Inmates who assault prison staff would be handcuffed while moving throughout a jail for months under radical new reforms proposed by the Opposition.

The dramatic move has been backed by the prison union, which called for inmates to face “immediate consequences” for attacking workers, including guards, healthcare workers and cleaners.

It comes after the Allan government in March introduced a new bill to parliament that, if passed, would add extra prison time onto the sentences of violent inmates convicted of injuring guards while behind bars.

Under the proposed change, prisoners who injure staff would be handcuffed while moving around different areas of their jail for three months in a bid to drive down the risk of them attacking staff again.

Inmates who assault prison staff face being handcuffed for months under new reforms proposed by the Opposition.

The Opposition also wants to expand the bill to cover other prison workers such as educators, healthcare workers and cleaners by the protections.

Community and Public Sector Union Branch Secretary Karen Batt said prison workers backed the Allan government’s bill, but it needed to go further.

“We told government their bill was okay but there needs to be immediate consequences for assaulting an officer,” she said.

“Breaches of health and safety outside in the street need to also apply behind prison walls.”

Leaked corrections data obtained by the Herald Sun in April revealed that there were 442 recorded attacks on prison staff in the past 12 months.

Those incidents included 10 sexual assaults and six attacks that were so severe that guards were hospitalised.

In March, Comanchero bikie Richard Ene faced court for allegedly injuring two guards as they removed his leg restraints during a transfer.

Comanchero bikie Richard Ene allegedly injured two guards as they removed his leg restraints during a transfer.

Shadow Corrections Minister David Southwick said prisoners needed further consequences for committing violent crimes behind bars.

“Victoria has a crime crisis because there are no consequences and this extends to our prisons,” he said.

“Someone serving 20 years for murder must understand that if they seriously assault a prison worker, their movement will be restricted.

“We have seen huge staff shortages because people don’t feel safe working in Victorian prisons.”

The potential changes also follow a pledge by the Allan government to add 1000 additional prison beds across state-run jails in the coming months to keep up with a potential influx of inmates after bail laws were wound back to make it harder for serious repeat offenders to be released.

Staff in Victoria’s troubled corrections system, which has resulted in a slew of legal fights launched against the government from injured and traumatised workers, last month posted a “resounding” 94 per cent no-confidence vote against Corrections Victoria Commissioner Larissa Strong.

The proposed amendment is due to be debated in parliament on Wednesday.