At 2.08pm this afternoon a young person held on remand at the Don Dale Youth Detention Centre escaped a Youth Justice Officer escort when departing the Royal Darwin Hospital.

 NT Police were immediately notified and the young person was brought back into custody at 2.30pm.

 The young person was visiting the hospital for a routine appointment and was being placed in a transport vehicle, to be returned to Don Dale Youth Detention Centre, when the attempt occurred.

 For safety purposes, young people are not to be handcuffed whilst being transported in case of vehicular accident. At the moment this young person was un-handcuffed to be placed in the transport vehicle, the young person kicked one of the escorting Youth Justice Officers to the ground, jumped over the vehicle, and attempted escape.

 Territory Families would like to thank the NT Police whose response was fast and effective in apprehending the young person immediately.

 The Territory Families staff members are unharmed.

 As per Territory Families process, an incident debrief meeting has occurred to consider how to mitigate the potential for this situation to occur in the future.

ENDS