REVEALED: The pathetic reason a cowardly criminal bashed a prison officer, 45, so hard he shattered his face
- An overcrowded jail has led to a prison officer suffering life-threatening injuries
- Prison officer Greg, 45, suffered fractures to his eye sockets, nose and cheek
- Officers say overcrowded Queensland prisons have led to increased assaults
- Scores of prisoners are forced to share cells as some sleep on floor mattresses
- Officers and several reports of prison violence are urging long-term solutions
A prison officer has revealed the reason for a violent inmate’s cowardly attack that left him with life-threatening injuries.
Prison guard Greg, 45, suffered multiple fractures to his eye socket, nose and cheek after he told a prisoner at Woodford Correctional Centre that he would have to share his cell.
The officer, who was airlifted to hospital, needed emergency surgery to piece his shattered jaw back together.
Overcrowding in Queensland prisons has led to increased assaults by inmates, according to a report by the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC).
This is the state of Queensland prison officer Greg after he was bushed to a pulp by an inmate
The prison guard (pictured) was airlifted to hospital with horrific facial injuries last month
Authorities are pleading for a long-term solution to overcrowding, with scores of prisoners 'doubling up' in cells as some resort to sleeping on a mattress on the floor or on a bunk bed, after many reports of violence.
The prisoner accused of punching and kicking the guard is serving a sentence for assault causing grievous bodily harm.
'This is the reality of what these men and women face every day,' Michael Thomas of Together Union, which represents prison staff, told The Courier Mail.
'They're husbands, they're wives, they're mums and dads and they go to work. No one deserves to go to work and go home via the emergency department.
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Following the attack, the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QCS) has agreed to put an extra staff member on the floor at Woodford.
Prisons within the state, including Woodford, will trial for one officer per unit to have capsicum spray ready to use to handle uncontrollable behaviour.
The CCC report warned that overcrowding corrupted prison operation, undermined safety and could lead to further criminalisation.
Another report called the Sofronoff parole review recommended major solutions to address the issue including a greater variety of rehabilitation programs.
Together Union secretary Alex Scott said the government are aware of the solutions but doesn't have the money to pay for them.
'We are gravely concerned that report after report after report identifies the problems, identifies the solutions, but none of the funding is forthcoming,' Mr Scott told Sunshine Coast Daily.
'The government can't keep on seeking further reviews into the problem rather than actually coming up with decisions to fund the solutions.'
The government has already rolled out 1000 new bunk beds and is set to announce another 1000 but officers say that is not the solution as aggressive inmates don't want to share cells.
Scores of prisoners 'doubling up' in cells as some resort to sleeping on a mattress on the floor or on a bunk bed, after countless reports of violence
Current figures show Queensland prisons are at 125 per cent capacity - all but one of the men's prisons and about half of the women's prisons are running above capacity.
Woodford jail holds about 1,400 prisoners, despite being built for around 980.
Mr Thomas previously told the ABC the union had serious concerns for correctional officers.
'Every day they [correctional officers] have to be hyper alert. Every day, it could be the day that that assault is a fatal one,' Mr Thomas said.
Greg is a 45-year-old guard from the Woodford Correctional Centre (pictured) on the outskirts of Brisbane
The CCC report warned that overcrowding corrupted prison operation, undermined safety and could lead to further criminalisation
He said there were fears of potentially deadly consequences if overcrowding was not resolved soon, with officers saying it was just luck no-one had died yet.
'[Overcrowding is] extremely alarming. The last few years, we've seen a massive increase in the number of prisoners that are being incarcerated that's led to overcrowding,' Mr Thomas said.
Corrective Services Minister Mark Ryan said at the time his 'thoughts and prayers' were with the family, friends and colleagues of the 45-year-old prison officer.
'Attacks on people whose job it is to keep Queenslanders safe are the worst, and a reminder of just how challenging and dangerous their work can be,' he said.
QUEENSLAND'S PRISON CRISIS EXPLAINED
WHAT HAPPENED?
He suffered multiple fractures to his eye sockets, nose and cheek, while he needed emergency surgery to piece back together his shattered jaw
A 45-year-old guard from the Woodford Correctional Centre was attacked about 3pm on Tuesday, December 18.
He was airlifted with serious facial fractures which required surgery.
The prisoner accused of punching and kicking the guard is serving a sentence for assault causing grievous bodily harm.
The centre was placed in lockdown and counselling offered to all staff.
STAFF REACTION
Woodford correctional officer met around 6.30am the day after the attack and voted to walk off the job.
The prison remained on lockdown before a hearing at the Industrial Relations Commissioner at 4pm that day.
Together Union representing prison guards sent a letter of demand to Corrective Services Minister Mark Ryan demanded issue of overcrowding be addressed.
The demands include capsicum spray, body-worn cameras for all officers, half-unit lock downs, two officers per 'post' every day, to refer all staff assaults to police for charges to be laid and to install service hatches.
The union requested a response within five days or has threatened to take industrial action across Queensland.
WHAT IS TASKFORCE FLAXTON
Taskforce Flaxton examined possible systemic issues with a view to raising standards of integrity relevant to detecting, managing and preventing corruption risks associated with Queensland corrective services facilities.
It found there had been increased assaults in prisons due to overcrowding.
