The transport of people in custody needs to be managed efficiently to protect the safety of the person in custody, officers, and the public. The transport of people who are in custody can happen for a variety of reasons, including:
- transferring people after arrest to police watch-houses or other police facilities
- moving people between watch-houses, correctional centres, or across jurisdictions (extraditions)
- transporting people to and from court for legal proceedings
- escorting people to hospitals and other medical service providers for treatment.
In these circumstances, a suitably qualified person, such as a police officer, corrective services officer, or a detention youth worker, needs to escort a person in custody.
Who we may audit
- Queensland Police Service
- Queensland Corrective Services
- Department of Justice
- Department of Youth Justice and Victim Support.
In this audit, we will assess the efficiency of the transport of people to and from custody. We will assess the extent to which available options are considered and used to minimise the time officers spend escorting those in custody. This will include how coordination between relevant entities supports efficient and timely transport while upholding key principles such as safety and natural justice.
We may also assess the economy of transporting people to and from custody as part of this audit.