‘It just makes me want to cry, seeing the increase in damning statistics’, youth advocate says
A report tabled in Queensland parliament revealed that the number of children aged under 14 detained in the state’s watch houses has risen by 50%.A report tabled in Queensland parliament revealed that the number of children aged under 14 detained in the state’s watch houses has risen by 50%.
“This increase in issues raised was largely attributable to higher numbers of both children in police watch houses and those experiencing a prolonged stay in a watch house,” the report said. “The most common issue raised in 2023–24 was the excessive lengths of stay of children and young people in police watch houses.”
The office investigated 2,254 “issues” and made 90 formal complaints on behalf of children and young people in watch houses to agencies such as the department of youth justice and the Queensland police service, it reported.The CEO of the Youth Advocacy Centre, Katherine Hayes, said “To end up locked in a watch house cell with no daylight, no fresh air, inadequate food, inadequate assessment and treatment of health issues is just another shocking neglect of these kids.conceded the practice is “wrong”There were 33 children in watch houses in Queensland at 6am on Tuesday. According to Queensland police statistics, 24 of them had a First Nations background, compared with nine who were non-Indigenous. The longest had spent nine days behind bars.
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