Five injured in prison fight

Police are investigating a serious assault after a fight at Hawke's Bay Prison in Hastings last night.

Detective Senior Sergeant Dave de Lange said a team of detectives was at the prison after a fight broke out between inmates in Unit 8 shortly after 5pm yesterday.

"As a result of the fight five inmates were injured. Four received treatment at the prison and one has been hospitalised with head injuries. He is in a stable condition."

No prison staff were injured in the fight.

Mr de Lange said the fight involved "a number of inmates".

He said the prisoner taken to Hawke's Bay Regional Hospital had head injuries, but was now stable.

The unit the fight occurred in was not high security.

Corrections Central assistant regional manager Paul Vlaanderen confirmed there was an incident between a group of prisoners at the prison yesterday evening in which one prisoner was taken to hospital.

Mr Vlaanderen said staff responded quickly and the prison was locked down to prevent any further incident.

He said Corrections would not make any further comment for security reasons.

- NZPA