6 days ago
Queensland government refuses to set limit on time spent in watch houses by children despite LNP promise in opposition
The Queensland government has refused to set a maximum limit for how long a child can be held in a watch house, despite committing to doing so while in opposition.
It follows a review by police into the state's 63 watch houses released last week, which found children were spending an average of 161 hours in the facilities.
The review heard evidence girls were inappropriately exposed to adult prisoners or boys in watch houses where showers and toilets did not have privacy screens or doors.
It also found some watch houses had ineffective CCTV systems, rodent infestations, and poor ventilation and temperature control.
In an interview with the Queensland Council of Social Services (QCOSS) in September, then-opposition leader David Crisafulli was asked whether he would implement time limits on how long a child could be detained in a watch house.
"Yes, but once the systems are in place to allow that. In the meantime, my values say to me that a child in a watch house, for weeks, I don't think that's best for society or the child," he said.
When questioned this week by the ABC on whether the government stood by the now-premier's comments, Police Minister Dan Purdie said in a statement there were no plans to introduce a limit.
"The Crisafulli government is not in the business of setting arbitrary time limits; our focus is on fixing the system so children don't end up there in the first place," he said.
"That work is already underway, with an immediate $16 million funding injection to ensure police watch houses are only ever used as a last resort, and only for as long as absolutely necessary."
In the September interview, Mr Crisafulli added it would be a priority to end the practice, but noted he couldn't say "within six months there'll be no kids in watch houses".
"I'll make this commitment: there'll be less kids in watch houses by the end of the term than what we're seeing now, and I'm certain that kids will be staying there for a shorter period of time," he said.
In 2023 Deb Frecklington, who is now the attorney-general, reiterated calls she had made years earlier to legislate a 72-hour window to transfer children from watch houses to temporary accommodation.
"Four years ago, when this issue reached crisis point and it was exposed that kids were being held for up to 40 days in watch houses, I immediately proposed a plan to put an end to this barbaric practice," she told the Guardian in 2023.
Youth Advocacy Centre chief executive Katherine Hayes said holding a child in a watch house for just over a day could cause lasting damage.
"We need to see a firm commitment from the government to immediately cease holding children in watch houses," she said.
"There is abundant evidence which shows that children suffer psychological harm once they are held for over 24 hours.
"This harm contributes to the cycle of offending, and ultimately creates more victims of crime."
Queensland Human Rights Commissioner Scott McDougall said watch house were not "designed or intended to hold children".
"Watch houses are not a place for children. Holding children in watch houses at all, let alone for lengthy periods of time, is mistreatment which must end," he said.
He said urgent reforms were needed, including "firm time limits to ensure children are not held in watch houses for longer than 24 hours".
The watch house review was commissioned in August last year, following concerns of overcrowding and the treatment of children.
It made 34 recommendations, including for Queensland police to prepare a policy position for the government to mandate a maximum length of time a prisoner stays in a watch house and holding cells.
Mr Purdie last week said the government agreed with all the recommendations.
The former Labor administration overrode the Human Rights Act to permit children to be detained indefinitely in watch houses in 2023.
