A critical health and safety emergency forced the overnight closure of Canberra's main police watchhouse after the facility was flooded with raw sewage, creating unacceptable risks for officers and detainees alike.
Immediate Closure and Health Advisory
The incident occurred on Friday night, prompting authorities to shut down the City Police Station watchhouse from 11pm. The Australian Federal Police Association (AFPA) revealed that a forensic medical officer formally advised the conditions inside posed a significant health hazard.
This assessment had immediate operational consequences, forcing a nurse to work remotely and leaving on-duty officers without on-site medical support. The situation compelled police to transfer six individuals in custody, along with stationed officers, to other police facilities across the Australian Capital Territory.
Union Fury and Repeated Warnings
AFPA President Alex Caruana did not mince words on Saturday morning, labelling the situation as unacceptable, unsafe, and entirely avoidable. The union is now actively considering legal action to have the watchhouse formally closed until it can be guaranteed safe.
"We do not take these steps lightly, but when our members are working in conditions that medical professionals have deemed a health risk, and detainees are being held in those same conditions, the government leaves us no choice," Mr Caruana stated emphatically. "Safety must come first."
The association highlighted that this is not an isolated incident, but rather the culmination of years of ignored warnings about the deteriorating state of the watchhouse. Mr Caruana expressed profound frustration, noting the government has repeatedly "slow-balled" any meaningful response to their concerns.
A Facility Past Its 'End of Life'
This sewage backflow marks at least the third such contamination event in 2025 alone. Following a similar leak in March, Police Minister Marisa Paterson acknowledged to the Legislative Assembly that ageing sewerage infrastructure was to blame, conceding the city station, built in 1966, had reached its "end of life".
A police spokesman confirmed that the watchhouse was fully cleaned and reopened by approximately 10:30am on Saturday. He added that staff from across ACT Policing ensured the transfer of persons in custody was conducted without incident, and at no time was public safety impacted.
The ACT opposition's police spokeswoman, Deborah Morris, criticised the government, stating police should not have to deal with such hazards while tasked with keeping the community safe. "If the government won't support the police to do their job, then it's ultimately the community that pays the price," Ms Morris said.
The ACT government has allocated more than $3.4 million for a feasibility study and business case for a new ACT Policing headquarters and city station. Expressions of interest for the replacement project were announced in June.
