Hospital prisoner guards ‘a drain’

QPU call for secure unit

A SECURE unit for prisoners should be “urgently” established at Gold Coast hospitals to ensure police crews aren’t being taken off the road to guard patients, a union official says.

Writing in the latest edition of the Queensland Police Union journal, south east region representative Andy Williams said it was a “rare day” not to read about a prisoner – either from jail or in custody – being guarded by officers in hospital. A process he described as a “drain on resources”.

The Surfers Paradise-based officer wants to see a secure unit, similar to the one at the Princess Alexandra Hospital used by Corrective Services, to be established at facilities in Logan and on the Gold Coast.

“The current system involves a car crew being taken from the road to sit beside each prisoner’s bed while they wait for treatment,” he wrote.

“I recall one day where no less than five prisoners were being guarded within the South East Region. The drain on resources is massive.”

He said the process was “dangerous” and referenced a 2018 incident where an officer was seriously injured when an offender turned violent at an Ipswich hospital.

“We urgently need a secure area in both Gold Coast and Logan hospitals where prisoners needing treatment can be safely managed,” he said.

“Having several secure beds in both hospitals will allow one crew to guard multiple prisoners in a safe, comfortable and efficient manner.”

A Queensland Police Service spokesman said: “We make no apologies for providing access to medical treatment for people in our custody nor for making proper custodial arrangements to ensure the safety of all persons involved and maintaining the integrity of investigations.

“We have a responsibility to the staff and the community to ensure people in our custody are securely monitored by police when receiving medical treatment.”

The spokesman said police received training for all situa

I RECALL ONE DAY WHERE NO LESS THAN FIVE PRISONERS WERE BEING GUARDED WITHIN THE SOUTH EAST REGION. THE DRAIN ON RESOURCES IS MASSIVE.

ANDY WILLIAMS

tions. He said when a person required hospital treatment and or admission police assessed the individual needs as to whether they needed to remain in custody.

He added the PA Hospital secure unit could be used if needed, and that deployment of resources on the Gold Coast were constantly being monitored.

Police Minister Mark Ryan said the deployment of officers was a matter for police commissioner Katarina Carroll, and the infrastructure put in place in Queensland hospitals was a matter for Queensland Health.