Prison Guards to Use Pepper Spray as Back Up

Prison guards are undergoing training that will enable them to employ verbal judo in order to calm hostile prisoners. However, if words fail to calm those in question, pepper spray, which is now being tested in prisons, is the next step in prison guards line of defense.

The training for staff at the front line was brought in as measures are being implemented to reduce the number of attacks on prison officers and inmates. Verbal judo, or de-escalation, is a technique that countless law enforcement personnel employ frequently.

By walking into a situation where tension is high, it’s important to talk to individuals effectively so that they calm in such a way that allows them to talk through the issues at hand. Prison guards who are located in high risk situations are presented with protective equipment, which include spit hoods, stab-resistant body armour and batons.

While pepper spray is also a device that prison guards have after a trial began on November 18 in 10 prisons, the self defense device has not had to be employed so far. Two types of spray have been trialled – a spray that works effectively once it is sprayed in the face of the prisoner and a mist that is sprayed into cells.

Of course, while talking to people in order to calm tensions is a good tactic it is also important to have another form of device that can be called upon should talking fail. This is where pepper spray comes into play. Seen as an effective device by the countless individuals who employ it, it presents the ideal device to have on hand.

Nowadays, it’s important for prison guards to have a form of defense on hand for their protection and for protecting other prisoners. As a result, the potential for hostile arguments is high which means that guards are required to have a device that is quick to employ and effective in its goal at stopping situations from escalating any further.

Not only that, but the canister itself may be small, that doesn’t deter anyone from thinking about purchasing pepper spray for their safety. Once deployed the one targeted will soon feel its effect and will ultimately force them to stop what they are doing, thus eliminating any possibility of a further threat from occurring.