Youth custody numbers surge in NT after new criminal-justice laws, FOI data shows

Freedom-of-information requests have uncovered a marked escalation in the detention of minors by Northern Territory police after the Country Liberal Party assumed office. Between March and September 2025, 503 children and teenagers were placed in watch houses, generating 934 custody incidents, with Indigenous youths comprising over 90% of those detained. The surge aligns with recent statutory changes, including the reduction of the age of criminal responsibility from 12 to 10 and stricter bail conditions, which police say have expanded their tools for responding to youth offending.

Senator Lidia Thorpe highlighted apparent flaws in the data, pointing to entries that suggest some youths were held for as long as 60 days, a duration the police acknowledge may be inaccurate due to manual entry errors. Indigenous Affairs Minister Malarndirri McCarthy urged the government to invest in community-led diversion initiatives, citing successful programs on Groote Eylandt. While the police acknowledge the rise, they attribute it also to factors such as repeat offences, bail compliance and policing activity, and have not detailed any specific mitigation plans. The lack of publicly accessible historical data prevents a longer-term trend analysis.