Jail officers using pepper spray four times a day

PEPPER spray is being used an average of four times a day to control violent inmates across the prison system.

- BY JAYMI McCANN

Data reveals that officers used PAVA - pelargonic acid vanillylamide - 1,379 times between January 1 and November 30, 2025, and it was drawn but not used on a further 643 instances, for a total of 2,022 in 11 months.

In 2024, it was used 1,331 times and drawn but not used 600 times in 12 months.