Disgusting abuse inside police lock-ups revealed

Prisoners are physically and sexually abusing custody officers at Victoria’s police station lock-ups, according to disturbing reports from staff who work in the cells.

Police custody officers say they are routinely subjected to physical and sexual abuse from prisoners.

The Herald Sun has been told of confronting examples of the intimidation and obscene behaviour meted out to some of the state’s 420 PCOs.

The role was introduced in 2016 to ease the burden on police of caring for inmates lodged in their cells.

But some officers say they are too often a target for foul treatment from those in station lock-ups.

They argue those who assault or threaten them should be open to the same mandatory punishments in place for attacks on emergency services officers.

There are concerns about the behaviour of prisoners toward staff at police station lock-ups.

Sources have told of cases of

• INMATES regularly smearing themselves with their own waste so officers cannot touch them when asked to move.
• USE of personal family details to intimidate PCO’s.
• DETAINEES chewing the inside of their mouths until they bleed, then spitting it in the officers’ faces.
• PRISONERS masturbating in full view of cameras monitored by female PCO’s.
• PCO’s frequently confront outbursts from inmates affected by or withdrawing from drugs, with severe mental health problems or who are enraged at having just been arrested.

Others in smaller regional centres make comments calculated to intimidate.

“They’ll say something like `your missus is really cute. I saw her in the IGA the other day’,” a source said.

“The crooks will go to school with the PCO’s kids. They’ll make comments about them … about what bus stop they get picked up at.”

Some PCO’s say police are, at times, unsympathetic.

“There’s an attitude of `suck it up. That’s what you signed up for’,” a source said.

The Community and Public Sector Union, which represents PCO’s, is in talks with Victoria Police over improved wages, safety issues and roster changes.

“Police must respect their employees equally and recognise the risks facing custody officers are as serious as those that face police officers and back them,” a CPSU spokesman said.

Victoria Police said PCO’s were an “integral part” of the organisation because of their critical role in managing those in police custody.

“Victoria Police highly values and respects the integral role our Police Custody Officer’s (PCO) play,” the spokeswoman said.

“Kicking, hitting or punching someone who is simply going about their job is completely unacceptable and we will have absolutely no hesitation in charging anyone who assaults a PCO.

“It doesn’t matter if you assault a police officer, Protective Services Officer, or a Police Custody Officer – you will be held accountable and the exact same custodial penalties apply.”

The spokeswoman said the force was in a consultation process with the CPSU on how to provide further support.

“Post this consultation, Victoria Police will continue to engage with all parties to collaboratively address any concerns raised,” the spokeswoman said.

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