Claims Qld police DV unit severely understaffed

The police domestic violence command is severely understaffed despite the Police Commissioner saying all position requests have been “approved”, an inquiry has been told.

The Queensland Police ­Service domestic violence command is severely understaffed despite Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll stating all positions requested have been “approved”, an inquiry has been told.

Ruth O’Gorman KC, counsel assisting the Commission of Inquiry into the Queensland Police Service Responses to Domestic and Family Violence, said multiple officers had told them they needed more staff.

The DFV Command was ­established in February 2021 after the domestic violence murder of Doreen Langham and Assistant Commissioner Brian Codd was appointed as its head.

The inquiry was told Mr Codd made repeated ­requests for more permanent staff but Ms Carroll told the ­inquiry all positions asked for were approved and she was not given a specific request for other positions or an urgent ­request.

Ruth O'Gorman KC. Picture: John Gass

Ms O’Gorman said a superintendent had told inquiry staff the command was under-resourced and that he had been present at meetings in which Mr Codd had asked for more resources. The superintendent said ­another 11 or 12 positions were needed.

The inquiry was told only one person had been working on a new DV manual for frontline officers, with support of a project officer.

Ms Carroll said when she held the first meetings about establishing the DV command she could not have been “more clear” that any resources ­required would be given to the command.

She said she had “never been approached for more resources into that command” and all staff requested through systems had been approved.

Ms Carroll said she had asked an external consultant to examine the command to give advice on staffing levels about three weeks ago.

Ms O’Gorman said: “Why not, rather than engage an external consultant to come and give you that advice, why not listen to your Assistant Commissioner, who is in charge of the command, who has been saying we need more resources?”

Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll outside the Independent Commission of Inquiry on Thursday. Picture: John Gass

Ms Carroll replied: “That Assistant Commissioner needs to tell me exactly how many and what they are going to do and where they need to go.”

In April 2021, Mr Codd and Acting Superintendent Ben Martain gave a presentation to the executive leadership team.

Ms O’Gorman said under-resourcing of the QPS and command was raised by the ­officers. Ms Carroll said the conversation was mostly about lack of resources for vulnerable persons units and didn’t recall under-resourcing of the command being raised.

She said she would have definitely reacted to the issue if it was raised with her.