Don Dale staff records disclosed in court reveal life inside youth detention centre's highest security block

Incidents of rolling lockdowns, staffing issues, assaults and self-harm inside one of Australia's most notorious youth detention centres have been aired during the trial of a teenager charged with assaulting three youth justice officers. Key points: Staff records given in evidence to the court have disclosed "intense lockdowns" and threats to staff The alleged offender's lawyers say he was subjected to lockdowns for up to 23 hours a day during his time An expert witness said staff are doing their best during "very difficult circumstances" This week a senior official, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was called as an expert witness to the incident which allegedly occurred while they were working on-call at the Don Dale Youth Detention Centre in Darwin. At the Darwin Local Court on Friday, the teenager, who brought his father in support, told the court that on his first day of detention "all the boys were locked down". On Tuesday at the Darwin Local Court, "block journal entries" recorded by Don Dale workers were brought into evidence to detail the day-to-day developments within the facility. "There's an entry that says wing remains locked down due to staff shortage to facilitate breaks and visit for young person," Mr Dane told the court.