Video of a violent group attack at Upper Hutt’s Rimutaka Prison has been shared online, prompting a Department of Corrections investigation into how the footage was leaked.
The CCTV footage shows prisoners kicking, punching and stomping an inmate until he falls to the ground.
One attacker can be seen using a crutch as a weapon, while the victim is lying on the floor.
Shortly after the attack stops, Corrections officers enter the space and support the victim.
Police say the assault was last year on September 23. Five people have been charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
The Department of Corrections is investigating how the CCTV footage was released and uploaded online.
Neil Beales, deputy commissioner men’s prisons, said the footage shows part of an assault involving a group of prisoners, one of whom had a crutch for a pre-existing injury.
He said the victim was seen by onsite health staff before being transferred to hospital, where he received further treatment and returned to the prison on September 27.
“We acknowledge the distress this video may cause and understand that any images of prisoners available online will be of particular concern to the victims of their offending,” Beales said.
He confirmed the incident shown in the video was referred to police and charges were laid.
“When someone is alleged to have committed a violent act in prison, we ensure all evidence, including CCTV, is provided to Police.
“As is standard process during court proceedings, the evidence is provided to the defendant’s legal counsel as part of discovery.”
The Department of Corrections is investigating after CCTV footage of a violent prison attack was posted online.
Beales said prisons can be volatile environments, with many prisoners having long histories of antisocial behaviour and capable of behaving unpredictably, without warning.
“We are constantly working to ensure our prisons provide the safest environment possible for staff and prisoners.
“We have invested significantly in training and tools to keep our staff safe. This includes tactical skills, such as de-escalation, through to the provision of stab-resistant body armour, on-body cameras and the expanded deployment of pepper spray.
“We have also worked with CANZ and the PSA to develop the Violence and Aggression Work Programme, which is aimed directly at reducing violence and aggression towards staff.”
Beales said all prison sites have an individual site safety plan to address violence and aggression.
