Queensland police are diverted from frontline response to transport and hospital guard duties for an equivalent for 37,000 shifts each year.
A review into the State’s watchhouses also revealed nearly 25 percent of prisoners were held beyond the intended 72-hour limit, including children, leading to increased risk of self-harm.
State Police and Emergency Services Minister Dan Purdie said the Watchhouse Review underlined the need for extra investment in the system, with $16 million being committed to restore safety, standards and support for police.
Minister Purdie said the review highlighted that watchhouses were being used to compensate for over-crowded prisons.
He said failing infrastructure, inadequate staffing and dangerous delays in maintenance were identified that compromised the safety of officers and the broader community.
“Police were left to manage broken-down facilities, mould-infested cells, and technology failures, all while juggling court transports, hospital guard duties and managing at-risk detainees without adequate support.”
Minister Purdie said the review identified critical infrastructure failures, including broken CCTV, unfit holding cells, and inconsistent training and maintenance across facilities, with off-duty police often being called upon to clean cells.
He said in addition to the $16 million in funding, a whole-of-government transport model would be introduced to return police to frontline duties, with centralised contracts implemented for cleaning, training and maintenance to deliver consistency and accountability.
Deputy Commissioner Cameron Harsley said Queensland Police were committed to genuine reform and transformational change across watchhouse operations.
“The review provides a clear and necessary roadmap to address longstanding issues and deliver meaningful improvements, focused on People, Processes and Places,” Deputy Commissioner Harsley said.
He said there was a need to reset, correct and strengthen systems.
“Importantly, these challenges extend beyond the QPS. A whole-of-government response is critical to deliver the risk-based, modern custody management framework Queensland needs.”
