The QPS confirmed its Ethical Standards Command conducted a review but "did not identify any breach of discipline or misconduct on the part of any police officer".Ī police source told the ABC that the Queensland Government was "trying to hang police out to dry" over the issue of children being held in watch houses. The Department of Premier and Cabinet's acting director-general, Rachel Hunter, was in charge of looking into the issues highlighted by Four Corners.īut the ABC can reveal that only a limited investigation took place and it did not deal with the systemic failures raised in the program.Ī spokesman for the Premier's office confirmed that only one incident - involving the severing of the girl's finger inside the watch house - was referred to the QPS. Care Leavers Australasia Network (CLAN) on 1800 008 774.
Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.The day after the Four Corners watch house story aired last month, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk told Parliament that all new matters raised by the program would be "fully investigated". Loading Allegations Queensland Premier 'misled Parliament' "He was later assessed and found to be able to wear ordinary clothing," she said.
It asked for "urgent advice" on when the boy could be transferred to a youth detention centre, and for additional options for mental health interventions.ĭuring the time the boy was left naked with only a blanket, the youth detention centre was down by at least 20 beds because it was being refurbished.Ī spokeswoman for Child Safety Minister Di Farmer said the boy "threatened self -harm and was given a smock to wear for his own safety". The Office of the Public Guardian later wrote to the Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women to complain that holding the boy in the watch house had distressed him and resulted in a decline in his mental health. The Queensland Police Service (QPS) did not answer a list of questions about the boy's case, instead telling the ABC that it "holds the safety and wellbeing of people in its custody as a paramount priority". "I really don't care what this kid has done, but he should not be treated like that." "I actually just cannot believe it, that a child has been stripped naked and left naked for four days," Queensland Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington said. " reported that he only has a blanket to wrap around himself," the documents state. The boy later told his child safety officer that he didn't want to wear the smock "due to feelings of shame" and after being stripped naked he was left in a cell with other children for four days. Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington says the Premier has not overseen a "full investigation" into children in watch houses. The files revealed that a girl had been mistakenly placed in a holding area with two alleged male sex offenders, while another girl had part of her finger severed in a watch house door. The program also highlighted several cases of 10-year-olds being held in the adult facilities, as well as incidents of children attempting suicide. Last month Four Corners reported that some children were being held in watch houses for weeks on end, with one placed in isolation for 23 days. "This is abhorrent, and it's a gross violation of this child." Please read the terms and conditions of the app to work out if it is the best method of communication for you.
No system is 100 per cent secure, but the Signal app can protect your identity by using end-to-end encryption. Text message the investigations team using the Signal app +61 436 369 072.Email ABC Investigations at more sensitive information:."We're absolutely outraged that a child with a disability, a child with suicidal ideation, has been left naked in a cell for three days," said Frances Quan Farrant, from People With Disability Australia. An anti-suicide smock used in the Queensland prison system.