Gold Coast police taken off the beat as watchhouse staffing shortage drags on

Police officers are being pulled off the beat to cover other duties on the Gold Coast. Find out why.

The Southport Watchhouse has been understaffed since June. Picture: Jerad Williams

THE Southport Watchhouse has been understaffed for about six months with officers being taken off the beat to cover the shortfall.

Police claim the watchhouse is still considered the frontline and it was common practice to move officers around the Gold Coast to ensure each area of the city is adequately staffed.

Solicitors have questioned whether the staffing of watchhouses should still be part of police duties or whether it should move to Queensland Corrective Services.

Woes with watchhouse staffing have been ongoing for a number of months, with the Bulletin confirming there has been a problem since June. It is understood illness and non-work related injuries have contributed to the staff shortage.

The Southport Watchhouse. Picture: Jerad Williams

Covid has also caused a tumultuous time at the watchhouse. The upstairs section of the building was converted into a Covid isolation area and a videolink was installed as a part of pandemic conditions.

Solicitors were required to see their clients via videolink and the accused appeared in court via the videolink.

In the past month the coronavirus rules changed and solicitors were allowed to visit clients in the watchhouse and officers were bringing accused into the courtroom again.

Sources told the Bulletin it was well known the watchhouse was understaffed.

Southport Court is also often held up waiting for watchhouse officers to become available to bring the accused into a courtroom.

Potts Lawyers managing director Bill Potts said adequate staffing at the watchhouse had long been an issue.

“The problem is very few people want to work there,” he said. “It’s often a dumping ground for police officers.”

Criminal Lawyer Bill Potts has suggested watchhouses become part of corrective services. Picture Glenn Hampson

Mr Potts said having police officers manning the watchhouse was a “balancing act”.

“You have a very large resource of police officers who are supposed to be investigating other matters,” he said.

“I think it’s a resource that needs to be looked at very carefully by the police Minister or corrective services Minister.”

Mr Potts suggested corrective services officers could be the ones to man the watchhouse, looking after those in custody once they have been remanded by police.

Other solicitors told the Bulletin they were aware the watchhouse was understaffed.

Gold Coast Police District Chief Superintendent Craig Hanlon said staffing at the watchhouse had been an ongoing issue since June but at no stage had the area been understaffed.

“There has been some sickness and other issues impacting staff at the watchhouse for a number of months,” he said.

Chief Superintendant Craig Hanlon said sickness had been affecting watchhouse staff levels. Picture: Shae Beplate.

“It’s certainly not impacted operations and we move staff around in according to demand at the watchhouse and making sure we meet the demand.

“The custody of people is potentially a very risky role that we perform and make arrangements so we have enough staff for our staff and also the people in custody.”

Supt Hanlon said it was common practice as a part of borderless policing to move crews and officers around to different areas when peopled called in sick, an event was happening or their was an illness outbreak.

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