NSW prison officers strike over colleague's alleged assault by inmate

New South Wales prison officers have walked off the job in protest after an inmate accused of brutally assaulting one of their colleagues was released from custody. The union representing corrections officers has supplied a picture which it said showed the injuries sustained by the officer at the John Moroney Correctional Centre near Windsor several weeks ago. The Public Services Association of NSW (PSA) said the attack left the officer with a broken eye socket, broken nose and missing teeth. The PSA said the inmate was granted bail on other matters and was initially not charged over the alleged assault. On Tuesday afternoon, NSW Police said in a statement the 55-year-old corrections officers was allegedly attacked by a 21-year-old inmate on July 25. The man was arrested at a home on Lloyd Street in Blacktown about 11am on Tuesday. He was taken to Blacktown police station where he was charged with causing grievous bodily harm to a law enforcement officer. He was refused bail to appear at Blacktown Local Court on Tuesday. 'Members are livid' PSA general secretary Stewart Little said prisoners had been locked down in their cells and trucks were bringing prisoners involved in court proceedings back to prison. "Our members are livid. A corrections officers gets bashed and left with life changing injuries and the guy gets released back into the community without being charged? That's outrageous," Mr Little said before the man was charged on Tuesday. A spokeswoman for Corrective Services NSW said the alleged assault remained a NSW Police investigation. "Any decisions regarding charges are matters for police," she said. "Staff are right to expect that inmates who assault them in the workplace will be met with the full force of the law and we encourage staff on duty to remain at work whilst police investigate." The spokeswoman said the 24-hour walk-out has been referred to the Industrial Relations Commission. "All correctional centres remain secure and appropriate care and essential services continue to be provided for inmates," she said. "Corrective Services NSW is continuing to support the injured officer who, like all staff deserves to be safe at work."