Belief gang tension is no higher than normal at Otago Prison - following recent attacks on staff

The Department of Corrections has confirmed a prisoner struck a staff member on the head at the facility on Monday.

It's the third attack on an Otago prison officer since April.

General manager, Dave Miller says the perpetrators were from the same gang - but there's no evidence to suggest the assaults are linked.

He says gang tensions are constantly monitored, and Corrections has invested in tools to keep their staff safe.