Southport Watchhouse: Police on overtime to babysit kids who cannot be taken to jail
Taxpayers are dishing out tens of thousands of dollars so police can babysit youth offenders on overtime at the Gold Coast’s Southport Watchhouse.
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TAXPAYERS are paying up to $50,000 a week for police to babysit youth offenders on overtime at the overcrowded Southport Watchhouse.
Police sources estimate that the officers, either constables or senior sergeants, are sometimes racking up daily bills of up to $7000.
“They pay the officers to only sit on the second level,” the police insider said. “It’s a significant waste of money. They only need one officer but they put three on the level. They only watch monitors.
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“It’s an officer safety issue and the ridiculous situation where police can face contempt of court if they don’t have a prisoner in the dock within a certain time.
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“The money could be better used buying resources, vehicles, computers for frontline police.”
Lawyers last month likened the watchhouse to an overcrowded jail with some of their clients spending up to two weeks at Southport before being transported to prison.
Another police source explained that officers were doing the work of Corrections and placed in a difficult situation regarding prisoner safety.
“There is the absolute paranoia of having a holding tank there and the scenario where you have a death in custody,” the police source said.
“That’s why there are so many police on overtime. It should be the Corrections in there. You have the 17-year-olds, they can’t be coupled with an adult and there’s no room at the John Oxley Youth Detention Centre.”
A police spokesman declined to comment on specific costings but admitted “during periods of increased demand overtime may be used in line with service policy”.
“The safety and welfare of all people in QPS custody is of paramount importance. This extends to all QPS staff who work in watchhouses,” the spokesman said.
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“The allocation of staff is based on demand, which is subject to daily fluctuations. Police work in partnership with other departments and agencies to ensure court-ordered requirements are complied with.”
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The police spokesman confirmed the Southport Watchhouse consisted of two levels which, at any given time, could be utilised to accommodate prisoners.
Bond University criminologist Dr Terry Goldsworthy, a former Coast detective, recalls the second floor of the watchhouse being opened only when the jails could not accommodate new prisoners.
“The staffing required for the watchhouse is fixed to some degree, in that the roles continue 24/7 and you must have the staff available to fulfil them,” Dr Goldsworthy said.
“In reality if someone goes sick at the watchhouse you either take a car crew off the road or you roster someone on overtime to cover the staff deficiency.”
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