ACT Police used a spit hood on a 16-year-old girl who became violent with officers after she was arrested, Chief Police Officer Neil Gaughan revealed in estimates hearings yesterday (August 29).

A spit hood is a bag constructed out of mesh that is placed over the head of a detainee to stop them from spitting or biting, with the aim of preventing injury to or infection of the police officer.

When used incorrectly spit hoods can create risk of suffocation and have been implicated in the deaths of people in custody, according to Change The Record Executive Officer, Sophie Trevitt.

“It beggars belief why spit hoods would still be in use in a so-called human rights jurisdiction like the ACT when other states and territories use alternatives to keep workers safe like face shields and PPE,” said Trevitt.

There are about 100 spit hoods currently in stock at the ACT Watch House, however Gaughan told the hearing that they are used “very seldomly” in the ACT.

According to ACT Police, a number of considerations are given before any type of restraint is used on a person in custody.

These considerations include the safety of the person in custody, the safety of others (including other persons in custody), threats made to expel bodily fluid, recorded history of spitting, aggressive or threatening behaviour, the likelihood of injury to any person and the circumstances of the incident.

The move has raised concerns from the ACT Greens, with emergency services spokesperson Andrew Braddock calling them “degrading devices that restrict breathing.”

“Spit hoods naturally become less breathable when they come into contact with fluids, further increasing the risk of suffocation,” said Braddock.

“No one should be spat upon while they do their job, but there are more suitable and humane measures for police to use.”

The use of the equipment was banned in South Australia last year following the death of Indigenous man Wayne Fella Morrison, who died in hospital after he was restrained in custody with a spit hood.

Mr Braddock is calling on the ACT government and ACT Police to explore other measures that can be used in Canberra.

“I am deeply concerned by ACT Policing’s inability to report on the use of spit hoods, so we have very little transparency into how people are being treated when in custody,” he said.