Boy, 13, allegedly sexually assaulted while being held in crowded Cairns watch house cell

Exclusive: Concerns mount over safety of Queensland children being held in adult watch houses, sometimes for weeks at a time

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A 13-year-old boy was allegedly sexually assaulted by an older teenager in a crowded cell at the Cairns police watch house, amid ongoing warnings about the safety of children being held for long periods in police lockups.

Guardian Australia has confirmed several details about the incident, which was disclosed to a senior police officer at the watch house, and became the subject of questions in parliament on Thursday.