Corrections Officers get safety and training boost

Queensland Corrections Minister Mark Ryan today released dramatic footage of an Emergency Response Group dealing with a riot at Wolston Correctional Centre.

While the unfolding drama is an exercise it provides a rare glimpse of the high-level training Corrections officers undergo to deal with emergencies.

Wolston Correctional Centre has traditionally housed some of Queensland’s worst prisoners including high profile sex offenders, psychopaths and individuals who are targeted by other prisoners and require protection.

Minister Ryan said the Emergency Response Group was a specially trained and equipped group of officers who respond to critical incidents in prisons to restore safety and security.

“The ERG team receives regular firearms, de-escalation and restraint training as well as tactical and strategy preparations and specialist personal training sessions,” Minister Ryan said.

“They are provided with a range of protective and tactical equipment to allow them to respond to prisoner violence and unrest, including chemical agents,” Minister Ryan said.

When not responding to critical incidents, ERG tasks include providing security escorts, conducting random cell searches and searching for contraband, often in partnership with the QCS dog squad or intelligence branch.

Load bearing vests rollout

In another boost to prison officer safety, the first 1350 load bearing vests are being rolled out to front line custodial officers at Queensland’s prisons this week.

All front line officers will have personally assigned load bearing vests by the end of the year in an effort to boost officer safety at Queensland’s 11 high security facilities, Minister for Corrective Services Mark Ryan said today.

“The vests will enable officers to wear body worn cameras – a technology shown to improve officer safety in custodial environments,” Minister Ryan said.

“Every day corrections officers keep Queensland’s communities safer by managing more than 8800 of our most dangerous and unpredictable people in corrections facilities across Queensland.

“The roll out of vests is a significant step in improving officer safety in what can be a very challenging and dynamic environment,” Minister Ryan said.

Queensland Corrective Services Commissioner Peter Martin said that officer safety was a top priority.

“Correctional officers put their lives on the line in prisons every day, managing the most dangerous people in our State, to keep Queensland safer.

“I am very pleased to have been able to work with the union to provide all our frontline officers with load bearing vests by the end of the year, as they and body worn cameras are known to reduce injury and keep officers safer on the job,” Commissioner Martin said.

The Together Union’s Michael Thomas welcomed the new vests.

“Having these vests issued as part of their personal equipment is something our members have been calling for some time and is very welcome.

“Correctional Officers do a tough job and deserve to be properly equipped to do it,” Mr Thomas said.

Queensland Corrective Services Commissioner Peter Martin recently announced a complete review of Use of Force in QCS to ensure all officers are appropriately equipped to deal with highly dynamic prison environments.

“Officer safety is our number one priority, and the Use of Force Review will be an important part of our commitment to ensuring we are providing the most effective and sustainable processes, equipment, training and technology to our officers now and into the future,” Commissioner Martin said.

Vision available here.

Media contacts 

Minister Ryan’s Office:                                                                    Ph: (07) 3035 8300

Queensland Corrective Services:                                                    Ph: (07) 38980841

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