Police are asking the public for help to find four youths who escaped from the Barkly Bail Facility in Tennant Creek on Saturday.

Police director of communications Mark Wilton said about 9.40pm five youths managed to scale a fence and escape from the facility.

“Following their escape, they reportedly removed their electronic tracking devices. A search was carried out in the area behind the facility and the nearby vicinity,” Mr Wilton said.

He said that at about 12.55am on Sunday, police found four of the youths hiding in a drainage area near Purkiss Reserve, but they ran off.

Police arrested one 16-year-old boy, who has been charged with breaching bail conditions and damaging property, and are asking the public to help find the other four.

Anyone with information about the escapees’ whereabouts is urged to call 131 444 (quote reference P26253400).