During Estimates hearings on Friday 26 July 2024, I asked the Police Commissioner about the use of segregation for children in Queensland's watchhouses.
You can read my question and his full response below, or in the official Parliamentary record of proceedings (Hansard) here.
Mr BERKMAN: While we are on watch houses, the QPS Operational Procedures Manual, I understand, dictates that people held in watch houses should not be segregated or held in isolation unless it is necessary for prisoners’ welfare and safety. Commissioner, are isolation cells ever used for any other reasons including for punishment for people detained in watch houses?
Commissioner Gollschewski: Thank you for the question. I would be extremely concerned if that were the case. I am not aware and think that would certainly not be what we would be doing in practice. If anyone has information otherwise, I would be certainly wanting to hear about it.
Mr BERKMAN: I expect you would be aware of the Guardian and SBS The Feed coverage recently which actually showed video and included audio of watch house officers saying to a young disabled Aboriginal girl as she was being put into isolation that it was because ‘you broke the rules, missy’. Surely, that is an example. I do not know how else you could characterise that other than it being a punitive use of isolation.
Commissioner Gollschewski: Can I assure the member that any individual matters—and I will not get into ones that are current that we may be looking at. There is another one at Richlands which I have asked for further review on. I am not satisfied with the explanation that I have been given to date. There are ongoing bodies of work on that and I am committed to making sure we address them.