Escape bid at youth justice facility

• Published date: 08 November 2021

The Herald understands up to 18 youths attempted to escape from the youth justice residence in Rotorua.

Emergency services were called to the site just before midnight.

Police confirmed they were there but could not comment further.

Oranga Tamariki general manager of youth justice services Peter Whitcombe said the “incident” involved “a group of young people” who “made an unsuccessful attempt to abscond”.

“The police were called and assisted in the management of this incident,” he said.

“No young people or staff have been seriously injured.

“Our initial assessment shows that systems that we have in place to keep young people and our staff safe were utilised successfully.

“We will not be commenting further due to an internal review now under way.”

The Herald understands some of the youths managed to get on to a roof area.

Youth justice facilities are all run by Oranga Tamariki.

Their residences are supposed to “provide a safe, secure and supportive environment where young people can get their lives back on track and improve their prospects for the future”.

Young people are generally put into a youth justice residence if they are:

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