cases, there was video footage, but no sound, making it difficult to work out the chain of events leading to the UoF. It was not clear to me in some cases why force was deemed to be necessary or that its use followed good practice. For example, in one case a prisoner who refused to relocate from his cell was first pepper sprayed and then restrained, and when he complained that he couldn’t breathe, the officer restraining him responded dismissively, ‘yes you can’. In another case, a man’s arm was broken during restraint, yet he was left in prone position until medical staff arrived. Such incidents are very concerning. Key Recommendations for the Department of Corrections • The large divergence between prisons in when and why segregation is used should be examined. • Regime provisions in segregation need to be improved, including some flexibility in the use of individual exercise yards where these are attached to segregation cells; enabling more family visits and contact with friends and family, including more flexible use of telephones and audio-visual contact; providing more access to programmes and things to do. • Cell cameras must exclude the toilet (and, where available, shower) area. • The use of anti-ligature clothing and bedding should be reviewed and reconsidered. • The disproportionate number of Mäori and Pacific Peoples in segregation units needs to be investigated as a matter of urgency. • Potential bias in decisions to segregate should be investigated. • Segregation units should be staffed by experienced staff, well versed in de-escalating challenging situations. • Staff working in segregated environments should receive specialist mental health training. • Mealtimes should reflect those in wider society. • Force should only be used when absolutely necessary, and only the least necessary force should be used (Section 83(1) of the Corrections Act should correspondingly change from ‘reasonably necessary’ to ‘absolutely necessary’). • The value and benefit of On-Body-Camera for staff’s own safety and integrity should be highlighted in staff training, and more emphasis placed on their correct use. • The significant increase in the use of mechanical restraints, and pepper spray, needs to be investigated as a matter of urgency, including variation between prisons. 25