Media Release
Northern Territory Government
Department of Corrections Incident at Holtze Youth Detention Centre - Friday 4 April 2025
At 11:07 AM on Friday, a young person returned from a scheduled visit, then proceeded to run behind accommodation blocks, climbing the internal perimeter fence and reaching the roof. His actions triggered an immediate lockdown of the centre, during which staff took proactive measures to secure the premises.
Staff quickly established a secure cordon around the buildings, ensuring that the situation was contained.
Throughout the course of the afternoon, a team including staff trained in de-escalation techniques engaged with the young person. After a series of negotiations, the young person safely descended from the roof at 3:11 PM. The incident was resolved peacefully, with no injuries sustained by the young person or staff members.
The roof is being assessed for any damage tomorrow (Monday 7 April).
Following the incident, staff participated in a debrief session to review the events and ensure that the Centre's protocols were followed.
By 4:20 PM, the Centre had returned to normal operations.
Staff involved in the handling of this incident demonstrated exemplary professionalism, and adherence to established protocols.
Holtze Youth Detention Centre continues to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of all young people and staff.
