Thai Correctional Officers demonstrate the use of the GUTS Baton.
GUTS Baton: a New Weapon for Thai Correctional Staff
There are currently more than 250,000 offenders are incarcerated in prisons and
correctional institutions throughout Thailand, while the total number of
correctional staff stands at 11,000. The ratio between correctional staff and
prisoners is 1:25, which is the highest ratio in comparing to other countries in
Asian and Pacific region. Prison staff have their duty to take the inmates in
good custody, without riot or any attempt of escape. The Thai correctional
staff’s duty to take in custody of high number of criminal without modern
security devices is considered a risky and dangerous mission.
What is the weapon used by Thai correctional staff?
The only weapon that Thai correctional staff are using is a wooden baton, with
neither standard size nor appropriate strategic training. In case where there
happens to be a disorder in prison and the inmate usurps an officer’s baton,
that baton would simply be used as a weapon against the officer himself.
GUTS Baton may be one good option as new weapon of Thai correctional staff.
GUTS Baton is a baton with particular characteristics. The material used is
fiberglass instead of wood, but it renders strength and durability. The length
of the baton is 24 inches, with a handle at one side. It is handy and effective
if correctly trained. Consequently, if the baton is usurped by the prisoner, it
would not be practically exercised as a weapon by an untrained person.
Starting in 2002, the Department of Corrections has brought GUTS Baton as a
weapon for prison officers as a replacement of the traditional baton. Initially,
strategic training was done as a pilot project in 25 prisons. On 28 January
2003, 501 male and female officers who have passed the strategic training
demonstrated the use of GUTS Baton to the public.
The GUTS Baton is, indeed, one other step of innovation that the Department of
Corrections has brought into practice, aiming to enhance better security in
prisons, to handle first-hand turmoil suppression, and most importantly, to be a
self-defense shield for Thai correctional officers.
Caption:
Thai Correctional Officers
demonstrate the use of the GUTS Baton.