The Queensland police commissioner says he acknowledges “end-to-end systemic issues” in police watch homes after revelations about the “abominable” remedy of kids, situations likened to “torture” and allegations of misconduct.
Steve Gollschewski on Tuesday introduced a broad-ranging evaluate into the state’s watch homes, which he mentioned have been “under significant pressure”.
Police watch homes are holding cells designed to carry violent, harmful and drug-affected adults for brief intervals. In Queensland youngsters might be held in them indefinitely – typically for a number of weeks – resulting from overcrowding within the youth detention system.
An investigation by Guardian Australia and SBS’s The Feed revealed footage exhibiting youngsters positioned in isolation cells in watch homes, together with a 13-year-old lady with a extreme mental incapacity. An ABC report additionally detailed an allegation of police brutality.
Gollschewski mentioned the evaluate wouldn’t look into whether or not these services have been acceptable to carry youngsters for lengthy intervals however the capacity of the police “to deliver a system under current arrangements”.
It will look into whether or not services, together with some watch homes that have been greater than 50 years previous, have been match for goal given fashionable pressures on the custody system.
The evaluate will even assess on the coaching and abilities of the watch home workforce – made up of sworn cops and specialist watch home officers. Advocates have raised considerations that police weren’t outfitted to care for kids with complicated wants, together with mental disabilities, held in watch homes on remand.
“[The review] includes all facilities, how we staff them, how we train our staff, and the conduct within those watch houses, and in particular the treatment of those in custody,” Gollshewski mentioned.
Police will even now mandate that officers use body-warn cameras, and publish dwell knowledge exhibiting the numbers of kids and grownup in watch homes.
The variety of complaints about police in watch homes has elevated up to now 12 months, Gollschewski mentioned.
“Clearly we’re very concerned [about those complaints],” he mentioned. “And in some instances our people have got it wrong.”
Queensland locks up extra youngsters than most different states mixed. Gollschewski mentioned numbers of individuals in custody had been rising and that “the demand placed on our watch houses will continue to intensify”.
“I acknowledge there are end-to-end systemic issues in our watch houses and the whole system is under significant pressure,” he mentioned.
“I expect our people to always do their best and it’s my job to ensure they have the right training and equipment, operational support and facilities.”
The deputy commissioner Cameron Harsley mentioned the evaluate would have a look at the kinds of individuals held in watch homes, that there was a “different cohort” in lockups in comparison with when many watch homes have been designed, together with those that are violent, drug-affected or have complicated psychological well being points.
Advocates say it’s inappropriate to carry youngsters alongside adults in these circumstances.
Gollshewski mentioned: “We’d rather have no children in watch houses. But obviously … there’s a community safety consideration.
“What we want to do is move them out of there as quickly as they possibly can.”
