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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/sep/20/queensland-police-will-have-to-use-open-and-closed-hand-tactics-after-spit-hood-ban-union-says
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| Queensland police will have to use ‘open and closed hand tactics’ after spit hood ban, union says | Queensland police will have to use ‘open and closed hand tactics’ after spit hood ban, union says |
| (3 months later) | |
| Controversial spit hoods will no longer be used in Queensland watchhouses, commissioner says | Controversial spit hoods will no longer be used in Queensland watchhouses, commissioner says |
| The Queensland police union says it will back officers to use “open and closed hand tactics” to defend themselves in state watch houses, after the banning of controversial spit hoods. | The Queensland police union says it will back officers to use “open and closed hand tactics” to defend themselves in state watch houses, after the banning of controversial spit hoods. |
| The decision to ban spit hoods was announced by the police commissioner, Katarina Carroll, on Monday, after a review by the Queensland police service. | The decision to ban spit hoods was announced by the police commissioner, Katarina Carroll, on Monday, after a review by the Queensland police service. |
| The Greens say Queensland must now completely outlaw the use of the hoods – which are made of fabric and placed over a detainee’s head to stop them from spitting or biting, and are considered a potential suffocation risk – including from prisons and correctional facilities. | The Greens say Queensland must now completely outlaw the use of the hoods – which are made of fabric and placed over a detainee’s head to stop them from spitting or biting, and are considered a potential suffocation risk – including from prisons and correctional facilities. |
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| Spit hoods have been used across the state 138 times between 2015 and 2022 after being introduced in 2009. | Spit hoods have been used across the state 138 times between 2015 and 2022 after being introduced in 2009. |
| An estimates hearing in August was told they had been used eight times on minors – aged between 10 and 17 – since 2019. No data for adult use was revealed. | An estimates hearing in August was told they had been used eight times on minors – aged between 10 and 17 – since 2019. No data for adult use was revealed. |
| The decision to discontinue spit hood use was announced late on Monday afternoon | The decision to discontinue spit hood use was announced late on Monday afternoon |
| “The QPS is committed to enhancing our practices to ensure we are delivering high-quality policing services to the community we proudly serve,” Carroll said in a statement. | “The QPS is committed to enhancing our practices to ensure we are delivering high-quality policing services to the community we proudly serve,” Carroll said in a statement. |
| ‘“We recognise there are community concerns around the application of safety hoods in police watch houses and we undertook an extensive review of the issue before formally discontinuing their use.” | ‘“We recognise there are community concerns around the application of safety hoods in police watch houses and we undertook an extensive review of the issue before formally discontinuing their use.” |
| The commissioner said watch house staff would now use alternative protection. | The commissioner said watch house staff would now use alternative protection. |
| “The QPS will implement a number of safety measures in watch houses including increased PPE, additional protective screens and rolling out a new operational skills training program for watch house staff.” | “The QPS will implement a number of safety measures in watch houses including increased PPE, additional protective screens and rolling out a new operational skills training program for watch house staff.” |
| The union representing rank and file officers, the Queensland Police Union of Employees, said it was involved in consultation about the ban and opposed the move. | The union representing rank and file officers, the Queensland Police Union of Employees, said it was involved in consultation about the ban and opposed the move. |
| The president of the union, Ian Leavers, told the Courier-Mail that “all options” should be available for police protection, including spit hoods. | The president of the union, Ian Leavers, told the Courier-Mail that “all options” should be available for police protection, including spit hoods. |
| “The removal of spit hoods will now mean police will have to use other methods to defend themselves from being spat on or bitten, including open- and closed-hand tactics. | “The removal of spit hoods will now mean police will have to use other methods to defend themselves from being spat on or bitten, including open- and closed-hand tactics. |
| “The QPU fully supports all of our members who choose to utilise these options.” | “The QPU fully supports all of our members who choose to utilise these options.” |
| According to the Queensland police operational procedures manual, open-hand tactics can include wrist and arm locks, upper body holds, neck restraints including choke holds, pressure point control tactics and ground restraint. Closed-hand tactics can include punches, elbows and knee strikes or kicks. | According to the Queensland police operational procedures manual, open-hand tactics can include wrist and arm locks, upper body holds, neck restraints including choke holds, pressure point control tactics and ground restraint. Closed-hand tactics can include punches, elbows and knee strikes or kicks. |
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| Greens MP Michael Berkman led the call for the ban to bring Queensland in line with the majority of Australian jurisdictions. | Greens MP Michael Berkman led the call for the ban to bring Queensland in line with the majority of Australian jurisdictions. |
| “Queensland police deserve credit for scrapping these torture devices. The government should follow through on the commitment by banning them in legislation,” Berkman said. | “Queensland police deserve credit for scrapping these torture devices. The government should follow through on the commitment by banning them in legislation,” Berkman said. |
| “Despite the availability of clear alternatives like PPE, spit hoods have been used in prisons and watch houses, on children and adults, and disproportionately on First Nations people. | “Despite the availability of clear alternatives like PPE, spit hoods have been used in prisons and watch houses, on children and adults, and disproportionately on First Nations people. |
| “There’s no good reason to put a bag over someone’s head, especially in watch houses where children as young as 10 are held in Queensland.” | “There’s no good reason to put a bag over someone’s head, especially in watch houses where children as young as 10 are held in Queensland.” |
| Police insisted spit hoods were “rarely used” and could only be applied by trained staff with their use reported and overseen by senior officers. | Police insisted spit hoods were “rarely used” and could only be applied by trained staff with their use reported and overseen by senior officers. |
| The use of spit hoods and restraint chairs was described as “inhumane” by a 2017 royal commission into the protection and detention of children in the Northern Territory, which recommended their use be ended. | The use of spit hoods and restraint chairs was described as “inhumane” by a 2017 royal commission into the protection and detention of children in the Northern Territory, which recommended their use be ended. |
| The Northern Territory government is also reportedly considering alternatives to the use of spit hoods on young people in police custody. | The Northern Territory government is also reportedly considering alternatives to the use of spit hoods on young people in police custody. |
| South Australia legislated a ban on the use of spit hoods last November. | South Australia legislated a ban on the use of spit hoods last November. |