Today, the Queensland Police Service announced that spit hoods have been operationally banned from all of its watch-houses, effective 16 September 2022. While the National Ban Spit Hoods Coalition welcomes this news, the ban must go further. It must be legislated and it must be broader.
The Queensland Government must enshrine this ban into a law that protects everyone in Queensland from spit hoods, whatever their age and wherever they are. Whether they’re used in a prison, a medical setting, or in a watchhouse, spit hoods pose the same grave threat to human life and dignity.
In November 2021, a spit hood was implicated in the death of a person in prison custody in Queensland. Today’s ban, as it currently stands, would not have protected them.
Queensland must follow South Australia’s example in banning spit hoods in legislation, everywhere and for everyone. In doing so, they must consult with local organisations, families, and survivors of spit hoods.
*The National Ban Spit Hoods Coalition was established in 2022 to call for a legislated ban on spit hoods in every Australian state and territory. Its members are human rights organisations, legal centres, academics, and civil society groups.
Debbie Kilroy, Sisters Inside Inc.:
This is good news today but it falls very short of substantial change. People in watchhouses are transferred on to prisons, where spit hoods continue to be involved in death and punishment. Victim’s families’ deserve justice and to know that these devices will not be applied upon anyone else, in any setting in Queensland! As the Commissioner has stated, PPE is available for officers - why not for all officers? It is not enough for spit hoods to be banned in one place - ban them everywhere, for all people, now!
Latoya Rule, Jumbunna Institute:
They told us spit hoods were banned in the Northern Territory and in Queensland, but it simply wasn’t true as operational bans are not concrete bans. There is a certainty that when spit hoods are banned in law, they cannot be used again. Queensland must ensure that there is no room for these torture devices - not in watchouses, nor in prisons, hospitals or other health facitilities.
We achieved a state-wide legislated ban on spit hoods for all people, of any age, and in all contexts across South Australia last year. I believe this can and must be replicated in every state and territory. The Queensland government must go further.
Maggie Munn, Amnesty International (AUS):
Amnesty International today welcomes the ban on spit hoods in Queensland watch houses, and adds our voice to the calls for a legislated ban on the use of spit hoods in all settings, and on people of all ages. The consequences of using a spit hood on anyone is shocking and long lasting, they are instruments of torture and must be banned everywhere.
Nick Espie, Legal Director at the Human Rights Law Centre:
We welcome the long overdue announcement to ban the use of spit hoods in Queensland watch houses. Spit hoods are dangerous and traumatic. The fact that these lethal devices continue to be used in prisons and police cells across the country is abhorrent. The Queensland government must ensure the use of spit hoods are expressly banned in law across all settings.
We urge all states and territories to follow the example set by South Australia in legislating to end the use of spit hoods. No one should ever be subjected to this archaic and humiliating device.
Cheryl Axleby, Co-Chair of Change the Record:
There is no safe way to use spit hoods. Change the Record welcomes reports that Queensland Police will stop using spit hoods in police watchhouses. Now, the Queensland Government must legislate to ban the use of these dangerous devices in all contexts, against anyone.
Spit hoods are traumatic, dangerous devices that have been implicated in the deaths of our people. They are outlawed in South Australia, and should be outlawed nation-wide.