Corrections removes tie-down beds from the country's at-risk prison units

Wednesday, 10 April 2019

Two years after the publication of a damning report into tie-down beds, the Corrections Department has finally decided to ban their use in the country's prisons.

Chief Ombudsman Judge Peter Boshier authored the report which criticised the treatment of five prisoners restrained in the beds because they were at risk of self-harm – a practice he described as 'disturbing' and 'inhumane'.

One inmate was restrained for 16 hours a day for 37 consecutive days – among the cases, Boshier believed breached the UN Convention Against Torture.

'In our report, we were heavily critical. I would like to think the result of our criticism has changed conduct … we found it was inhumane and I think most New Zealanders agreed with that,' Boshier said.

* Family demands answers as Ombudsman investigates use of 'tie down' prison beds

* Chief Ombudsman slams excessive use of prisoner restraint**

Corrections' chief custodial officer Neil Beales confirmed all existing tie-down beds would be removed from prisons, telling Stuff they hadn't been used since late-2016.

'The use of tie-down beds was always a last resort to protect prisoners from escalating extreme and prolific self-harm or where their behaviour posed a threat to their life, or the safety of staff and other prisoners,' Beales said.

Chief Ombudsman Judge Peter Boshier authored a damning report which criticised the Corrections' Department's use of tie-down beds for at-risk prisoners.

While he was pleased with the decision, Boshier was critical of the time taken to make it.

'I was disappointed by the initial push-back. Since that time, I think there has been an acceptance that we were right.

'With our prison reports, we make recommendations. We don't just walk away. We go back, we revisit and we say, 'of the recommendations we made, these have not been taken up. Why not?' And if they haven't and that's unjustifiable, we kick up a fuss.

'I think Corrections have been driven to do this because of a lack of access to forensic mental health services and it's not acceptable.'

Tie-down beds see prisoners restrained by their legs, arms and chest, and in waist restraints with their hands cuffed behind their back. The prisoner can only move their head from side-to-side.

The restraints can't be used in mental health settings and were not used in Britain or Sweden.

'I support international best practice which doesn't like the use of tie-down beds. We feel, as a matter of humanity, they should not be used,' Boshier said.

The report told the story of Prisoner A who was secured in a tie-down bed for 592 hours in total, despite his condition improving and that he was being effectively managed during daytime hours.

Another inmate had his hands cuffed behind his back and bound to his waist, almost continuously, for three months.

The report raised concerns about the use of tie-down beds as a threat to force a prisoner to be compliant, that basic Corrections' procedures weren't being followed and that staff only received basic training.

'We are now moving towards a multi-disciplinary model of care which includes greater resources, training and support for staff supporting prisoners at risk of self-harm or suicide, therefore reducing the need for tie-down beds,' Beales said.

Corrections are setting up a 100-bed mental health unit at Waikeria Prison to 'better respond to prisoners with serious mental health needs'.