53 Escapes From CYF "Secure" Youth Facilities

There have been fifty-three escapes from Child, Youth and Family "secure" youth residences in the past eighteen months, ACT Social Welfare Spokesman Dr Muriel Newman revealed today.

"While some children have absconded for just a few hours, I am concerned that twelve of the 27 escapes from the Manurewa Northern Residential Centre have lasted longer than a week. And there have been eight escapes from Kingslea Residential Centre, the facility holding convicted killer BJ Kurariki.

"The scary thing is that these youth facilities hold children who are convicted of serious crimes - they are there because the courts system has recognised jail would be inappropriate for them. Society still expects these children to be educated and protected within secure facilities. They are a risk to themselves and to others.

"These facilities only have 75 beds, yet 53 kids have managed to walk out in the past eighteen months.

"I want to know what Minister Steve Maharey is doing to reduce the number of escapes from these "secure" facilities," Dr Newman said.

Escapes from secure youth facilities:

Northern Residential Care (Care & Protection and Youth Justice Facility, Manurewa): 27 escapes. One of 15 mins, one of 4.5 hours, nine of 1 day, one of 2 days, one of 3 days, one of 4 days, two of 5 days, two of 6 days, one of 9 days, three of 10 days, one of 11 days, six of 14 days, one of 21 days.

Lower North Youth Justice Residential Centre (Youth Justice Facility, Palmerston North): 1 escape. One of 1 hour.

Epuni Care and Protection Unit (Care & Protection Facility, Lower Hutt): 3 escapes. One of 30 mins, one of 6 days, one of 7 days.

Kingslea Residential Centre (Care & Protection and Youth Justice Facility, Christchurch): 8 escapes. Three of 5 mins, one of 20 mins, one of 2 hours, two of 1 day, one not recorded.

Puketai Residential Centre (Care & Protection and Youth Justice Facility, Dunedin): 14 escapes. One of 3.5 hours, seven of 1 day, two of 3 days, one of 9 days, one of 10 days, one of 11 days, one of 14 days.

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