B.13.01 Management of Disruptive Incidents (National Policy)

Procedure Standard

• Disruptive incidents are managed using authorised intervention strategies. All incidents involving the use of force are documented and reviewed.

Requirements:

• R1 Intervention Strategies
• R2 Approval For and Reporting Use of Mechanical Restraints and Physical Holds
• R3 Use of Force Register

Procedure

1. If an incident occurs a decision shall be made by the senior officer present on the most appropriate intervention strategy to be applied.
2. The effectiveness of the initial intervention shall be continually reviewed to determine whether or not another strategy is more appropriate. If the preferred intervention strategy involves Use of Force, the prior approval of the Prison Manager or manager authorised to exercise this delegation must be sought, wherever practicable.
3. Before control and restraint is applied, oral approval must be gained from the Prison Manager or manager authorised to exercise this delegation, wherever practicable.
4. Where prior approval has not been obtained due to the need to respond immediately, the Unit Manager or On Call Manager shall be informed as soon as practicable following the incident.
5. If the use of control and restraint is approved only those techniques identified in the control and restraint manual shall be used.
6. Following each incident a team debrief shall take place and the Debrief Report form and the required reports completed and distributed according to the use of force report requirement.
7. A suitable registered health professional examines the prisoner within three hours of the incident, the Unit Manager or On Call Manager is informed of the prisoner's condition, details recorded in the prisoner's medical file and the Use of Force Register signed and updated.
8. The Unit Manager or On Call manager interviews the prisoner within three hours of an incident where force has been used, to determine their immediate needs and placement.
9. The results of the Manager's interview are recorded in the Debrief Report form signed and referred to the Prison Manager.
10. The Prison Manager confirms that all the required steps were implemented and signs the Use of Force Register to certify that all actions were undertaken within time and in the correct way.
11. Where any force is used the appropriate form is completed and a copy forwarded as required.
12. A review is carried out by an officer nominated by the Prison Manager to consider whether the situation was handled in the most appropriate way, what led to the situation, and what strategies need to be put in place to avoid future situations that lead to the use of force.
13. The reviewing officer places a record of findings in the Use of Force Register and informs the Prison Manager of the findings.

Process Summary

Key Roles and Responsibilities

Officers involved in a disruptive incident

1. Assess situation and propose an initial intervention strategy.
2. Advise the prison manager or manager authorised to exercise this delegation if the preferred intervention strategy involves use of force.
3. Advise suitable registered health professional of what physical force has been employed
4. Complete required forms.

Prison Manager

1. Decide on ongoing intervention strategy.
2. Authorise the use of force.
3. Implement a strategy to normalise the situation following an incident.
4. Advise suitable registered health professional immediately following an incident where force has been used.
5. Ensure reports and forms are completed.

Unit Manager/On Call Manager

1. Inform Visiting Justice of an incident requiring the use of a mechanical restraint. (Form B.13.01.F1)
2. Seek Visiting Justice approval to continue any mechanical restraint for more than 24 hours. (Form B.13.01.F4)
3. Interview the prisoner within three hours of an incident where force is used.
4. Receive reports and forms and add any further details.
5. Ensure required forms are entered in the Use of Force Register.
6. Inform Prison Manager.

Suitable Registered Health Professional

1. Examine the prisoner within three hours of the force being applied
2. Inform Unit Manager or On Call Manager of the prisoner's condition, and place record of prisoner's condition on the inmate's medical file.
3. Record date and time of examination in the Use of Force Register.

Prison Manager

1. Receive report and forms and nominates officer(s) to carry out a review.
2. Approve use of Mechanical Restraint (Corrections Regulations 2004 - Part 9).
3. Forward reports to recipients as required.

Reviewing Officers

1. Analyse incident and report to Prison Manager.
2. Note brief details of findings in Use of Force Register.

Process Steps

Sources of Further Information

• Control and Restraint Manual