The unit at Te Puna Wai o Tuhinapo, in Rolleston, Christchurch, has been empty since last year as staffing levels at the facility are under stress, a source within the Ministry of Social Development told the Otago Daily Times.
While the unit sits idle, some youth offenders are spending time in police cells with 16 children in cells around the country, including one in the Southern district, as of yesterday afternoon.
In September, the Dunedin Youth Court heard 11 children nationwide were in police cells awaiting placement in Youth Justice residences.
Dunedin's Youth Court judges have taken a stand, remanding children into the care of Child, Youth and Family's chief executive.
ODT inquiries also revealed earlier this month some children were being remanded into motel rooms under the care of social workers and under the watch of security guards as the department scrambled to make beds available.
The source within the ministry told the ODT, the unit was ``mothballed'' as the facility did not have the staff to make it operational.
``We haven't got the staff to staff it,'' the source, who spoke under condition of anonymity, said.
The unit was closed - along with one other 10-bedroom unit at the facility - because of a decline in youth crime. However, a recent lift in youth offending had resulted in increased demand for beds.
The unit took 16 staff to man and because of staff on extended leave and financial constraints remained closed, the source said.
In response to ODT queries, Child, Youth and Family youth justice support general manager Chris Polaschek said, in an emailed statement, the department was ``looking at operationalising the fourth unit''.
``Staffing would be one of the factors to work through.''
The source was unconvinced.
``We haven't heard anything about it,'' they said.
``I wouldn't believe it's going to be operational anytime soon.''
Mr Polaschek said in the statement any decision made about a young offender's management was done ``on the basis of what is in their best interests''.
``While from time to time a young person will be held in a police cell because they pose a threat to the public, our view is that it is not in the best interests of a young person and we seek to minimise the length of time and impact of doing so,'' he said.
``Residences have a high turnover, with young people coming and going every day.
``At any one time, there are likely to be young people transitioning into or out of a residence, and residential bed availability can fluctuate from full to 15 to 20 vacancies over the course of a few days. In the last few months, there has been a sustained period of demand and we are now in the process of developing responses to this increase.
``As we work through the appropriate response to the increase in demand, we continue to manage with a focus on the best interests of the young people we have in custody.''
The pressure on Youth Justice bedding around the country has also raised the ire of Dunedin youth advocate Brian Kilkelly.
He has questioned why the department's Will St residence sits idle while teenagers are remanded to police cells.
The ministry has said a proposal for the future use of Will St is under development.
The principal Youth Court judge John Walker has also weighed in on the issue, telling the ODT police cells ``are no place for vulnerable young people and children, no matter how short a stay''.
In a further statement provided to the ODT, Mr Polaschek said Te Puna Wai o Tuhinapo faced several ``challenges'' in 2014 which needed a ``comprehensive plan of action to address''.
``The work that we have done has borne fruit, and the residence is a much different environment now - both for residents and staff,'' he said.
``There is still work to be done, continuous improvement remains our focus.
``Nevertheless, the children's commissioner has indicated in his most recent audit that the residence has made a great deal of effective change and acknowledges the commitment to keep being better every day.
``Management of the residence has stabilised and I am particularly pleased that the staff at
Te Puna Wai o Tuhinapo have become a more cohesive team.
``They mutually support each other and share their knowledge and skills and the work environment has greatly improved.''
