Timing of Corrections tie-down bed ban questioned by researchers

Thursday, 11 April 2019

Questions are being raised about the timing of Corrections' announcement of its decision to rid the country's prisons of tie-down beds, despite their use being at odds with international best practice.

Stuff revealed the controversial form of mechanical restraint – which has been criticised for being cruel, inhumane and degrading – was being withdrawn from at-risk prison units on Wednesday.

The announcement was made two days before the New Zealand Medical Journal (NZMJ) was due to publish a study calling for their removal – publication which took place on Friday morning.

That study drew heavily on the findings made by Chief Ombudsman Judge Peter Boshier's report into restraint use in prisons from 2017 where he was scathing in his assessment of tie-down beds.

* Editorial: End the use of tie-down beds in prisons

Dr Julia Carr of Griffith University Australia called for tie-down beds intended to be used as a 'last resort' to prevent prisoners from self-harm or suicide to be banned, in a study published in the New Zealand Medical Journal on Friday.

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

* Chief Ombudsman slams excessive use of prisoner restraint**

The report said one prisoner was restrained by his legs, arms and chest for 16 hours at a time for 37 consecutive days, while another had his hands cuffed behind his back and bound to his waist almost continuously for three months.

Amnesty International New Zealand campaigns director Meg de Ronde says the organisation has been concerned about the issue of restraints and seclusion of NZ prisoners for some time.

These cases, in addition to three others outlined in the report, evoked concerns about the prolonged use of the restraints for prisoners deemed to be at risk of self-harm or suicide.

In the NZMJ study, lead author Dr Julia Carr of Griffith University Australia called for tie-down beds to be abolished and for health professionals to refuse to participate in their use.

The study highlighted the ethical and policy issues, saying that other similar jurisdictions managed mentally-distressed prisoners without resorting to tie-down.

Chief Ombudsman Judge Peter Boshier was advised by the Department of Corrections on Wednesday that tie down beds would no longer be used.

'It does seem a coincidence that the embargoed article went out [on Tuesday] and then the decision happened. It may well have been happening in the background, but it's a good decision.

'Certainly, I would say most health professionals wouldn't even know this still happened in New Zealand. It's barbaric, really,' Carr said.

Corrections chief custodial officer Neil Beales told Stuff that tie-down beds haven't been used since late 2016, but they were now being removed.

Amnesty International New Zealand campaigns director Meg de Ronde said the speed of Corrections' decision-making on the issue was a concern, particularly following the findings of Boshier's investigation two years ago.

'Unfortunately, I think resources are tight and this hasn't been prioritised in the way it should have been. This is something that Amnesty International raised internationally last year.

'We were looking at the use of restraint practices in countries like the Ukraine, China and Serbia, and New Zealand was also included in that cohort with the use of tie-down beds.

'Perhaps some of that international pressure might have increased the focus on this from Corrections, but we suspect generally a lack of resources and time has meant this hasn't been prioritised,' de Ronde said.

However, she was pleased the decision to withdraw the 'dehumanising' beds was eventually made.

'We've been calling for a change in the use of seclusion and restraints in places of detention in New Zealand, so we're pleased to see this first step,' de Ronde said.

Corrections' chief custodial officer Neil Beales said the decision to withdraw the beds signalled a move towards a 'multi-disciplinary model of care which includes greater resources, training and support for staff supporting prisoners at risk of self-harm'.

The number of beds were reduced to four nationwide in 2016 and, because they had not been used since the end of that year, the decision was made to remove them completely.