Blood, rats, self-harm: The disturbing truth about police cells where children are held

A review into Queensland's police watch houses has made troubling findings, including prisoners self-harming to be transferred out, and children being indecently exposed to adult prisoners.

Children like 'Sam', a 13-year-old disabled Indigenous girl, often face brutal conditions in the watch house. Sam was locked in an isolation cell, allegedly for punishment. Source: Supplied / SBS / Guardian Australia

This article contains distressing content.

In the Box: Inside the isolation cells where Australian kids are imprisoned — an investigation by SBS The Feed and Guardian Australia

Tiny, windowless cells with no access to fresh air, or open-air cells infested with rats and insects. Exposure to blood, other bodily fluids and faeces. Fluorescent lights kept on 24/7, making it difficult to sleep.

There are sometimes no doors on the showers or toilets, so female prisoners are exposed to male prisoners, while girls are exposed to adult prisoners or boys.

The conditions are so poor that some prisoners deliberately injure themselves to be transferred to hospital.

There have long been human rights concerns surrounding Queensland's police watch houses, where children are held indefinitely. Source: Supplied / Queensland Police Union

These are some of the conditions many detainees — including children — are facing in Queensland's police watch houses, a damning review has revealed.

Watch houses are police holding cells — they're designed for adults, but in Queensland, children as young as 11 are also held here indefinitely, while awaiting trial or transfer to a youth detention centre.

The internal review into the state's watch house system was launched by the Queensland Police Service (QPS) last August, following an increase in complaints.

It also came after media reports of human rights concerns, including a joint investigation by The Feed and Guardian Australia which showed — for the first time — footage of children being locked inside isolation cells, allegedly for punishment.

The review has highlighted issues that have been overlooked for years, facilities crumbling into disrepair, ill-equipped staff and an environment that is "unsafe for minors".

"Watch-houses are not equipped to provide the space, privacy, natural light or support needed for children's physical and psychological well-being," the report said.

"This can result in heightened anxiety, distress and an increased risk of self-harm."

Children locked up for weeks

There are 63 watch houses in Queensland — in 2024, more than 78,000 prisoners passed through them.

Watch houses are not designed to hold people for more than 72 hours — however, children are sometimes held there for weeks on end.

The review found children who were remanded or sentenced spent an average of 161 hours (over 6 days) in the watch house — and stays of more than 14 days were not uncommon.

"The Review found that longer prisoner stays in watch-houses can lead to increased rates of non-compliance by prisoners and increase in self-harm events," the report said.

A perfect storm of factors has led to children being locked up for longer — including a lack of beds in the overflowing youth detention centres, under-resourced courts, Queensland's strict bail laws and a crackdown on youth crime.

For years, human rights groups have called for the release of children from watch houses, while oversight bodies have criticised the long-term detainment of children.

Debbie Kilroy is the chief executive of Sisters Inside, an advocacy group for women and girls in prison.

"Queensland’s watch houses are dangerous, degrading, and unfit for any human being, let alone children," Kilroy said.

"Right now, even as this report is being circulated, children are sitting in concrete boxes under fluorescent lights, with no schooling, no privacy, and no access to fresh air. This is not a question of capacity—it is a question of cruelty.

"We must divest from police. We must shut down watch houses. And we must get our girls out."

Vulnerable groups at risk

While the review stressed "watch-houses are not suitable places for vulnerable groups" – including women, girls and children – there was an increase in the length of stays for these groups between 2021 and 2024.

People in watch houses have higher rates of health issues compared to the general population — including mental health concerns, suicidal ideation, disabilities and substance abuse.

The review also acknowledged women and girls in custody are often survivors of domestic violence, sexual abuse and trauma.

It said: "The watch-house environment is largely designed with adult men in mind, leaving female prisoners with insufficient access to gender-responsive healthcare services".

Staff find it challenging to assess prisoners' health needs, and there are often no on-site health services available.

There's been a rise in complaints about watch houses, including the behaviour of watch house staff.

The review found a quarter of the allegations are related to assault or excessive use of force, with around one in four relating to child prisoners.

However, it noted: "the vast majority of total complaints … were unsubstantiated".

Government and police accept recommendations

The watch house review has made 34 recommendations, including urging the Queensland government to consider a maximum length of stay for watch house prisoners. Other recommendations include enhancing bail processes to minimise the use of watch houses and revising the training of staff.

Both the Queensland Police Service and Queensland government have accepted the recommendations.

Police Minister Dan Purdie has announced $16 million in funding to upgrade watch house facilities. He also said the watch house has become a more dangerous place to work.

"One in seven staff and police who work in watch houses [are] the victim of assault, which is greater than that on the front line," Purdie told reporters on Thursday.

"We will work with the police methodically and diligently to ensure that we have a strategy moving forward to ensure our police have a safer place to work and the facilities they need, to do their job and keep Queenslanders and themselves safe."

Police deputy commissioner of regional services, Cameron Harsley, acknowledged significant work needs to be done to overhaul the watch house system.

"The watch house officers … are doing a tireless job in challenging situations with very difficult people that we manage in watch houses, but we do that to keep our community safe and keep those that are at most danger to our community off the streets of Queensland."

Readers seeking crisis support can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 and Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (for young people aged up to 25). More information and support with mental health is available at beyondblue.org.au and on 1300 22 4636.

If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au

If you or someone you know is feeling worried or unwell, we encourage you to call 13YARN on 13 92 76 and talk with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter.

Aboriginal Counselling Services can be contacted on [phone].