‘Inhumane’ spit hoods still in widespread use across Queensland, despite royal commission recommendations

Selesa Tafaifa died at Townsville women’s correctional centre in 2021 with a spit hood over her head. Her family have been pushing for the devices to be outlawed Photograph: Supplied by family

Newly released figures show spit hoods were used 82 times across Queensland prisons last year, as an inquest resumes on Tuesday into the death of an inmate in Townsville.

The Queensland police service announced in September it would no longer use spit hoods in watch houses after a “thorough review into the matter” but they continue to be used in the state’s prisons.