Qld police quietly ban spit hoods in watchhouses

Queensland police have announced the banning of controversial spit hoods in the state’s watchhouses, days after the commissioner made a formal decision.

A controversial watchhouse device has been banned, in a decision the police union says will force officers to use “open and closed-hand tactics,” to deal with violent offenders.

In eyebrow-raising timing, Queensland police issued a statement at 4.59pm, mere hours before the Queen’s funeral, confirming they would ban the “inhumane” spit hoods across the state’s watch houses.

The statement confirmed the Commissioner made the decision last Friday.

Queensland Police Union boss Ian Leavers confirmed the union was consulted, but did not agree on the hood ban.

“The QPU would prefer all options are available for police to protect themselves from violent, aggressive, and difficult people in custody which includes having access to spit hoods,” Mr Leavers said.

“Queensland Police have proven to be responsible, professional and restrained in the use of these devices that are designed to keep police safe.

“The removal of spit hoods will now mean police will have to use other methods to defend themselves from being spat on or bitten, including open and closed hand tactics.

“The QPU fully supports all of our members who choose to utilise these options.”

CCTV footage from Brisbane Correctional Centre of a 17-year-old having restraints and a spit hood put on him.

The use of spit hoods on those in police custody to prevent officers being spat on or bitten has long been surrounded by controversy, with The Courier-Mail among the many voices calling for their discontinuation and replacement by personal protective equipment (PPE).

Until now, Queensland and the Northern Territory were the only jurisdictions in the country to hold onto the outdated practice, which also allowed officers to place hoods over children in detention centres, an act labelled by Amnesty International as “cruel, inhumane and degrading”.

The QPS revealed the spit hoods were used on 138 occasions in the seven years between 2015 and 2022, affecting 0.04 per cent of the total number people in custody during that time.

But following continued calls to ban the hoods, including concerns raised by both the Queensland Human Rights Commissioner and Queensland Family and Children’s Commission, QPS announced it had reviewed its use of spit hoods, resulting in their “immediate” ban.

Commissioner Katarina Carroll said spit hood use was “rare” and the decision to ban them was made following “extensive consultation” with the Police Union and other government agencies.

“We recognise there are community concerns around the application of safety hoods in police watch houses and we undertook an extensive review of the issue before formally discontinuing their use,” Ms Carroll said.

“The QPS will implement a number of safety measures in watch houses including increased PPE, additional protective screens and rolling out new operational skills training program for watch-house staff.”

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