CYF staff shortage puts young offenders in cells

Young offenders are being housed in police cells designed for adults as beds lie empty at the brand-new Child, Youth and Family corrections facility at Rolleston.

The situation has prompted a Christchurch Youth Court judge to demand answers.

CYF blames the situation on a shortage of fully trained staff, saying there is a risk of riots if staff are not properly prepared for some of country's worst young criminals.

At the opening of the $30 million Te Puna Wai o Tuhinapo youth justice facility last month, Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment Ruth Dyson said it would enable the department to "keep young offenders out of police cells".

But since then, more than 50 young people have spent the night in cramped Christchurch police cells, including one young person who was held for nine days straight.

CYF said it had not filled all 32 beds at Te Puna o Wai Tuhinapo because the facility did not have enough trained staff.

It is understood Christchurch Youth Court Judge Brian Callaghan this month asked CYF to explain why a 16-year-old recidivist offender had been held in police cells for a week because the department said it had no place for him.

A senior Christchurch CYF staff member was called to the court to explain the situation, sources told the Press.

A CYF spokeswoman said she was unable to find out the outcome of the meeting between CYF and the Youth Court judge.

But CYF Youth Justice operations manager Chris Polaschek said Te Puna o Wai Tuhinapo would be fully operational by Christmas.

"The agreed and planned for approach was to increase, to full, Te Puna Wai's capacity by mid-January 2006 by increasing numbers by four beds each month from 20 to 32," he said.

Due to pressure for beds, CYF had fast-tracked the programme and 28 beds were operating at the unit, he said. More staff, however, needed training in dealing with the difficult youngsters.

" Our experience is that if staff are not fully 'on their game' then there is a real risk that there will be an incident in which someone will get hurt," he said.

"At the most extreme end there is a risk of a riot in which part of the facility could suffer significant damage which in turn would impact on its capacity."

- NZPA