7 Mar 2013

Prison officers suspended during investigation

9:21 pm on 7 March 2013

Two Rimutaka Prison officers have been suspended on pay while being investigated for two incidents.

One officer is being investigated over an alleged assault on a prisoner, and another for allegedly breaching the integrity provisions of the Department of Corrections' code of conduct.

A spokesman for Rimutaka Prison said Corrections has zero-tolerance for any form of violence or assault in jails.

Any allegation of violence or assault is investigated and appropriate action is taken by the department once the evidence has been assessed.

The investigations are expected to continue until the middle of March.

It is standard practice by Corrections to continue to pay suspended prison officers.