Ten people confined to a cell bloodied blankets and blocked toilets these were some of the claims from people detained in the Palmerston police watch house in recent days. The Northern Territory's Police union has raised the alarm saying the number of detainees inside police facilities is unsustainable warning it's just a matter of time before an officer or an inmate is hurt or killed. Meanwhile the government says there's no alternative if they're to quell the Territory's crime problem.
00:00Walking free from custody after 10 days inside Palmerston Police Watch House.
00:08It's just horrible. You've got to shit in front of other people and the same you're eating too, while they're shitting.
00:14Willis Carlo, who was granted bail in Darwin local court today, said he was crammed into a small cell with up to 15 other men.
00:22They don't turn the lights off, you sleep with the lights on.
00:25Another prisoner released on bail who did not want to be identified told the ABC female inmates were forced to defecate in front of each other and male officers.
00:35It's disgusting. It's unhygienic. You've got eight girls crammed into one cell. Girls are on their periods, not even being allowed to have showers.
00:43When I was in there, there was a pile of blankets that were bloodied from periods and they weren't even allowing showers.
00:49She and Mr Carlo were among 92 detainees inside the Palmerston Police Watch House yesterday, 76 of which were correctional prisoners on remand.
00:59The Northern Territory Police Association says police officers who staff the facility are being stretched beyond capacity.
01:06We've got no contingencies in place to look after if someone gets violent, someone has a mental health episode inside that custody facility as well.
01:13Mr Finn said police resources are being diverted to manage the situation inside the watch houses.
01:19There'll be people out there that we can't take into custody, simply committing offences.
01:23And that is a flow on effect to the community and the safety of the community as well.
01:26In March, following backlash about police watch houses being used as overflow from detention facilities, the Corrections Minister Gerard Maley told Parliament watch houses would no longer be staffed or used by corrections, allowing police to freely conduct their duties.
01:43Now the police union says the government hasn't followed through.
01:47It's going to end up in unfortunately a situation where a police officer is hurt or an inmate within those facilities is hurt or sometimes killed.
01:56In response to questions from the ABC, the Minister for Corrections Gerard Maley said while he acknowledged the challenges, there was no alternative and corrections would continue to expand capacity to ensure those remanded and sentenced have a bed.
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