Qld watchhouse changes: Body-worn cameras, daily capacity made public

Queensland watchhouse officers will be fitted with body-worn cameras as part of a review into ‘systematic issues’ within the facilities, as the state’s top cop says the service has sometimes ‘got it wrong’.

Queensland watchhouse officers will be fitted with body-worn cameras as part of a review into “systematic issues” within the facilities, Queensland’s top cop says.

Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said an end-to-end review of Queensland’s 63 watch houses had commenced.

“I acknowledge that there are end-to-end systemic issues in our watchhouses and the whole system is under significant pressure,” he said.

“I expect our people, always, to do their best.”

Mr Gollschewski said the review would focus on “training, equipment, operational support and facilities”.

“To address these issues, I have asked for a review into how we design, provision and operate watch houses with a commitment to ongoing reform,” he said.

As part of the review, Queensland watch house officers will be fitted with body worn cameras while a public dashboard on the Queensland Police website will provide daily updates on capacity at the 63 facilities.

Queensland Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Mr Gollschewski said the QPS wanted to “minimise time spent in watchhouses while improving conditions”.

“Each year more than 75,000 alleged offenders are processed through these facilities causing a strain on an already stretched system,” he said.

“It is estimated the number of hours of people in custody will increase this year by 7 per cent – to be about 3.8 million hours.

“We are also seeing an increase in the number of complaints – 42 complaints this year, 101 allegations … and in some instances our people have got it wrong.”

“Once an offender comes into a watchhouse it is our responsibility to treat them with dignity, respect and effectively manage them while they are in our care.”

Mr Gollschewski said Deputy Commissioner Cameron Harsley will lead the review.

Mr Harsley confirmed sworn officers and watch house officers would be fitted with body-worn cameras from this week.

He said the public dashboard would be updated “twice daily”, providing a breakdown of the number of adults and children at each of the watchhouses as well as time spent in custody.

Speaking about the body-worn cameras Mr Harsley said: “That’s for the (officer’s) own security as much as it is for the person in custody’s security”.

“It is also a deterrent for people in watch houses with their behaviour knowing that it is going to be recorded and they are potentially going to be prosecuted for further offences if they commit them within watch houses,” he said.

Mr Harsley said there would also be an “independent health and wellbeing assessment of each watch house” to “understand the deficiencies of the health and safety of our people in watch houses but also those coming into custody”.

“This information will form part of the review over the coming months and will give us a roadmap moving forward,” he said.

Deputy Commissioner Cameron Harsley. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Mr Gollschewski said he realised the QPS lacked a “collective strategic approach for all 63 watch houses in Queensland” during his time as interim commissioner.

He said the review would look at the QPS’s ability to “deliver a system under current arrangements”.

Speaking about children in watchhouses, Mr Gollschewski said: “Most times when children come into our custody, the ability to keep the community safe has been considered in terms of the decision to keep them in custody.”

Mr Harsley said arrests numbers had increased in recent years.

“We’ve had a high rise in the arrest of people in the last few years … the matters in which people are in custody have become more complex as well,” he said.

“It’s a different cohort of people that we are dealing with in watch houses than what we were 50 years ago … the world has become more complex.”