Pepper spray has been used in a New Zealand prison for the first time to subdue an inmate.
The spray has been on trial in prisons throughout the country since November last year, but had not been used until an incident at the Otago Corrections Facility near Milton on Monday.
The Department of Corrections chief custodial adviser says an inmate had smashed up his cell, made a makeshift weapon and was a danger to staff and himself.
Eric Fairbairn told Radio New Zealand's Checkpoint programme staff tried to calm the man, but as soon as he started trying to harm himself they moved in with the pepper spray.
It was sprayed under his door and prison officers then entered the cell.
Mr Fairbairn says staff did not have much time to consider other options and he believes using the pepper spray was the right choice.
