Police union demands better after alleged beating on female officers

Queensland’s Police Union has demanded the state government address overcrowding in watch houses after two female officers were allegedly bashed and others covered in urine in separate attacks in Cairns.

The visitor entrance and exit to the Cairns Watchhouse located between the Cairns Police Station and Cairns Courthouse. Picture: Brendan Radke

Queensland’s Police Union has demanded the state government address overcrowding in watch houses after two female officers were allegedly bashed and others covered in urine in separate attacks in Cairns.

Another stakeholder believes it’s only a matter of time before there’s a death in custody that could have been prevented, and is calling for a long-term plan to address youth crime.

The calls come after two female officers were allegedly assaulted by a 24-year-old man at Cairns watch house on Wednesday.

It followed a separate incident on Easter Saturday where police say a boy, 16, threw urine on staff and a fire which was allegedly set by an inmate in January.

QPU vice president Shane Prior said overcrowding at Cairns watch house was putting officers, staff and inmates at risk.

“(On Thursday) Cairns watch house (was) at 154 per cent capacity and this has placed significant strain on the system however the numbers could have been reduced with better management systems in place,” he said.

“Police watch houses can be violent, unpredictable workplaces and when facilities are overcrowded the volatility level among those in custody escalates rapidly; our officers have to de-escalate the situation but also protect themselves and other inmates.”

Mr Prior said more needed to be done to move inmates into long term care or youth justice programs.

“The QPU backs a system of collaboration between Queensland Police and Queensland Corrective Services that can reduce prisoner numbers in police watch houses,” he said.

“Remanded prisoners should be moved immediately to a facility designed for their long term care; the inability to move prisoners on weekends and public holidays needs to end, police need QCS support to manage the flow or prisoners across the whole system.

“The QPU will ask the Acting Police Commissioner to meet with the Corrections Commissioner to immediately establish a collaborative team to manage the effective transfer and custody of prisoners out of police watch houses.

“Violence against our members doing their job and keeping our community safe is unacceptable; police are entitled to be safe at work and the system must prioritise worker safety immediately.”

Youth Empowered Towards Independence CEO Genevieve Sinclair said issues within the watch house were at crisis point.

“I am aware that there are very high numbers of young people in the Cairns watch house and this is unsafe for children and all workers who are supporting children in these environments,” she said.

“There have been recent assaults on police, a fire was started (on January 16), children with significant disabilities are being detained inappropriately and very young children assaulted.

“How much worse can things get? There will be a death in custody soon and it could have been prevented.

“We need an urgent bipartisan agreement and long term plan to address youth crime — until that occurs — all of us workers in this space, children with complex health needs and disabilities, police and critically the community and victims of crime are being let down.”

A Queensland Corrective Services spokeswoman said the organisation was “doing everything possible to expedite transfers” despite limitations to operations.

“Legislation provides that QCS receives prisoners within 21 days, however the vast majority of eligible prisoners are received within 7 days,” the spokeswoman said.

“How many people can be safely received on any given day is dependent on a range of factors including availability of health staff and specialist officers.

“QCS has finite built and operational capacity, which is under significant stress due to the unprecedented increases in prisoner numbers within the system.

“We will continue to prioritise servicing watch houses in support of QPS to alleviate watch house pressures where possible.”

Police pressed charges over the alleged attacks.

A 24-year-old Earlville man is accused of assaulting a female officer multiple times in the head and face before attacking another officer who came to her aid, leaving the women with bruised and swollen faces.

He was allegedly involved in a serious assault in Manoora of a 54-year-old woman, known to him, on April 2 which landed him in custody.

A 16-year-old Woree boy was also charged after allegedly throwing urine on watch house officers over the Easter long weekend.

Staff members who were involved in the alleged incident had to undergo subsequent disease testing.

The Earlville man was charged with two counts of serious assault of a public officer and one count each of assault domestic violence offence and contravention of a domestic violence order.

He refused bail and was due to appear before Cairns Magistrates Court on April 4.

The Woree boy was remanded in custody and was due to appear in the Cairns Children’s Court.

Originally published as Police union demands better after alleged beating on female officers