QPS Acting Deputy Commissioner Mark Wheeler says spit hood ban was the right move

Watch house staff will undergo further training and protective screens will be installed to shield police from spitting in wake of the Queensland Police Service banning the use of “spit hoods”.

Cops will undergo further training and protective screens will be installed to shield police from spitting in wake of the Queensland Police Service banning the use of “spit hoods”.

It comes after Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers opposed the decision, announced by Commissioner Katarina Carroll on Monday night, saying it would force watch house officers to resort to physical force to protect themselves.

Acting Deputy Commissioner Mark Wheeler, who has been spat on himself while working, defended the service’s move to the ban the controversial hoods, which he said was an “emotive and complex” issue”.

“We are responding to concerns in the community and advocacy groups and aligning practices with other jurisdictions,” Mr Wheeler said during a press conference after the announcement on Tuesday.

Introduced in Queensland in 2009, the use of spit hoods – or fabric face coverings – 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).

Security camera footage from the Brisbane Correctional Centre shows a 17-year-old boy with restraints and a spit hood put on him. Picture: Supplied

Until now, Queensland and the Northern Territory were the only jurisdictions in the country to hold onto the outdated practice, which also allowed officers to place fabric hoods over children in detention centres, an act labelled by Amnesty International as “cruel, inhumane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

But Mr Leavers did not agree with the ban, saying he would prefer staff members to have access to all options to “protect themselves”.

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

“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.”

But Mr Wheeler said communication was always the first option, and the use of force always depended on the circumstances of the individual situation.

“Ultimately, we train our police very well and we expect them to exercise good judgment,” he said.

“It would depend again on circumstances, but open and closed hand tactics are an available use of force.

Acting Deputy Commissioner Mark Wheeler defended the ban of spit hoods. Picture: Alix Sweeney

“I think everyone would agree spitting is an abhorrent act. The ramifications of being exposed to bodily fluids is certainly a safety risk for our police.

“Based on the circumstances at the time …. it may be appropriate to use a use of force that we wouldn’t normally see.”

Between 2015 and this year, spit hoods have been used 138 times in Queensland watch houses, which equates to just 0.04 per cent of all people in custody.

Mr Wheeler said he had been spat on during his career, describing it as a stressful experience.

“Personally I’ve worked in watch houses and operational environments … I’ve been spat on personally on a number of occasions,” he said.

“You need to deal with the person and the situation … you then undergo a disease test order, it’s a stressful situation and I absolutely empathise with police.”

Mr Wheeler said the decision on the ban was made after an “extensive consultation period” with multiple agencies, including the QPU.

QPU vice president Shane Prior aired his stance in a public social media post, saying Ms Carroll opted to ban the devices despite the union’s disagreement.

“The forgotten aspect is the stress disease testing puts on an officer and their family after they have been attacked this way,” Mr Prior said.

Mr Wheeler said staff members would still be safe and have access to more PPE, would undergo new training, while protective screens would be installed in watch houses in wake of the ban.

He said it was up to the state government whether it would legislate the ban of spit hoods across the board.

Acting Police Minister Mark Furner said “the relevant ministers will discuss the matter of safety hoods at the appropriate time”.

Originally published as QPS Acting Deputy Commissioner Mark Wheeler says spit hood ban was the right move