An "unfortunate set of circumstances" resulted in a 15-year-old boy being held in a police cell at the Dunedin Central police station for four nights over Easter, police say.
Child, Youth and Family (CYF) says most of the Dunedin youth's stay with police was unavoidable.
The youth was arrested last Friday after he escaped CYF custody as he was being taken to a CYF home on Thursday.
He appeared before a justice of the peace on Saturday and was remanded into the custody of police, who opposed bail until a bed at a secure youth justice residence became available.
CYF southern regional director Kelly Anderson said a bed at the nearest youth justice residence - in Christchurch - became available that day, but not until after the youth had been remanded into police custody.
CYF could not take him to Christchurch until he was remanded back into its custody, which a justice of the peace did at the next court sitting, on Monday.
Arrangements for the teen's transport began before he appeared in court on Monday, in anticipation of his going to the residence, but "unfortunately, the required number of trained staff needed to provide safe and secure transport weren't available until Tuesday morning", Ms Anderson said.
"Police were also not available to assist with the transport." The justice of the peace was made aware of the delay in adequate escorts being available and understood the youth would be moved, as soon as possible, to the youth justice facility, she said.
Dunedin-Clutha area commander Greg Sparrow said it was "an unfortunate set of circumstances".
It was not normal that a young person stayed in police custody longer then 24 hours, he said.
