On 06 August 2024, Queensland Police Commissioner Stephan Gollschewski announced a wide-ranging review (the Review) into watch-house operations across Queensland.
The Review has been initiated in response to rising complaints and occupancy rates within watch-house facilities managed by the Queensland Police Service.
The review will examine how we design, provision and operate watch-houses with a commitment to ongoing reform. This includes ensuring our people have the right training, equipment, operational support and facilities.
The challenges our society faces continue to become more complex, including police attending to people who are drug affected and/or have serious mental health conditions. The review will look at the level of training we provide our police to assist with these complex needs.
Once a detainee comes into a watch-house, it is our responsibility to treat them with dignity, respect and effectively manage them while they are in our care.
Background
The Queensland Police Service has a total of 63 watch-house facilities located across regional and metropolitan areas in Queensland.
These facilities manage approximately 75,000 persons per annum, some of whom are held in facilities for more than 14 days. Approximately 10% of persons in custody are children.
It is estimated the number of hours of people in custody will increase this year by 7% to be about 3.8 million hours.
There are instances where Queensland Police Service watch-house facilities require significant investment to modernise and ensure facilities are appropriate to provide the necessary care and support to those in custody.
Scope
The watch-house review will undertake discovery work across several key areas. Priority will be given to those areas that will improve outcomes for people in custody and watch-house personnel, to ensure the custodial activities are managed appropriately. The review has been split into three main themes:
- People:
a. Ensuring our people are appropriately recruited and trained to care for persons in custody in watch-houses
b. Ensuring the health and safety of persons in custody
c. Ensuring the health and safety of our people working in watch-houses.
- Processes:
a. Ensuring our systems and processes are efficient and effective for watch-house custody operations.
- Places:
a. Examination of our infrastructure and facilities (including technology) to identify opportunities for improvements in the support of our people, processes and those in custody.
The review is focused on Queensland Police Service watch-house responsibilities and will not examine broader systems.
Reviewer and responsibilities
The review will be led by Deputy Commissioner Cameron Harsley APM, who will oversee consultation both within the Queensland Police Service and externally, including through public submissions.
The Review will seek the assistance of external and independent professional services who will guide and inform the review and formulate recommendations.
A Review report will be provided to the Commissioner of Police for consideration.
Submissions
Public submissions in relation to watch-house experiences and insights is welcomed. Submissions will be open until 11 December 2024 and can be made at the following email address: