Northern Territory police starts investigating claims of detainees being fed animal faeces at Don Dale Youth Detention Centre

The Northern Territory police's child abuse branch is leading an investigation into criminal allegations brought forward by a youth at the Don Dale Youth Detention Centre. The victim claimed that teenagers at the centre were fed animal faeces and forced to fight so they would be given junk food.

Assistant Commissioner of NT police Jeanette Kerr said her department hasn’t been able to retrieve any evidence with regards to the offence and that investigations were ongoing. "We currently have one person that we are still speaking to where we think there are potential avenues for further enquiry," she confirmed, clarifying that the police were involved in investigating only one particular case.

The matter was referred to police by a government agency in May 2015. A 15-yr-old victim named Travis made the complaint at a youth justice forum in Darwin.

Travis said that the guards made the kids fight by offering to reward them with chocolate and cold drinks. He further alleged that a staff at Don Dale encouraged a detainee to eat bird faeces, and then posted the footage on the messaging app Snapchat.

NT Children's Commissioner Colleen Gwynne has called for an urgent investigation into the "absolutely horrifying" allegations. "Most of them have come from violent backgrounds themselves, to then turn around and encourage them to engage in such behaviours themselves, to me, I just find...I'm just flabbergasted by that," she added, noting that detention was a place to make people's lives better.

According to the ABC, Minister for Corrections John Elferink said he was serious about the matter, which is why it was referred to the police. “The police will investigate it in the usual careful and methodical manner that they do so," he added. He, however, emphasised that the allegations were related to the former Don Dale Youth Detention Centre which is no longer in operation.

Elferink has also stated his support for Northern Territory's Corrections Commissioner Ken Middlebrook, who believes that the allegations are false. Middlebrook was at the youth justice forum when Travis made the allegations and said he would not be taking any action until the claims are backed by evidence.

Ruth Barson from the Human Rights Law Centre said it was time that NT government started working properly on investigating the allegations. "[It] should be ringing loud alarm bells for the entire Northern Territory Government,” she added.

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