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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Ben Smee

Concerns for 13-year-old in Queensland watch house ignored days before alleged sexual assault

A view outside the Cairns district police headquarters
Psychologists and youth workers have raised concerns with youth justice figures over children being held in overcrowded Queensland police watch house cells. Photograph: Google Maps

Authorities repeatedly ignored pleas that a 13-year-old boy was at risk of harm in the days before the child was allegedly sexually assaulted in an overcrowded Queensland police watch house cell.

Documents seen by Guardian Australia show psychologists and youth workers separately raised the alarm to the youth justice department about the size and vulnerability of the boy and sought his transfer out of the Cairns police watch house for his own safety.

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