QATSICPP Statement 18 July 2024
Call to Immediately End the Detention of Children in Watch Houses
QATSICPP is deeply distressed at the footage released by SBS The Feed following it’s 12 month joint investigation with Guardian Australia.
Adult watch houses are no place for children and young people to be detained for any period of time and we urgently call on the Queensland Government to move immediately to remove all children currently detained in adult watch houses.
The evidence is clear – time spent in adult watch houses is harmful to children. Extended time in watch houses like we’re currently seeing in Queensland causes significant trauma and long term mental health issues.
The story of “Sam” is not an isolated incident. According to the Office of Public Guardian they have referred 550 cases of treatment of children in watch houses in the first two months of this year.
Tackling the root causes of children and young people’s offending behaviours is critical to break the cycle of offending.
Early assessment for conditions like Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FASD) will better support children and young people to develop mechanisms that will help them to better self regulate in challenging situations. FASD impacts on executive functioning and cognitive reasoning.
We need to do better for our children so they can grow up safe and strong and have the positive futures they deserve
Quotes Attributable to Garth Morgan, CEO QATSICPP
“It is absolutely shocking to have witnessed this footage of “Sam”, a young girl with an intellectual disability being forcibly restrained by Queensland Police in an adult watch house”
“This was clearly about the adults in the situation not being able to regulate their own behaviour, and this is not becoming for an officer of the law in Queensland”
“The officers involved in the incident with “Sam” should be dismissed immediately. The way the officer spoke to “Sam” after slamming her hand in the door was the worst kind of gaslighting and coercion”
“This incident gives rise to a much more serious concern about the capacity of the QPS to train their officers adequately. It is clear that police are not trained to work with children, particularly those who have impaired cognitive function. Any parent would be horrified by this vision”
ENDS
Download the statement here
