NT Police are intensifying their search for missing five-year-old Grace Hughes, establishing a multi-agency taskforce with the AFP to locate the girl who went missing along with her mother on August 7, with the alleged assistance of a “group”.

Police said the taskforce is committed to locating Grace and reuniting her with her “lawful guardian” and would be targeting the “group” who have assisted in “the ongoing harbouring of Grace”.

“The conduct of this group is despicable,” said Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Jon Beer.

“NT Police will continue to target this group and any other persons assisting the ongoing harbouring of Grace.

“Police will use every power available to them to locate Grace. Anyone who is found to have harboured those who abducted Grace will face significant charges before the courts.”

Sgt Beer said the group was peddling “ideologies and false information” with no regard for the “mental wellbeing of a five-year-old girl”.

Police arrested 50-year-old Juliet Oldroyd for her alleged role in abducting Grace, charging her with one count of abducting a child under 16 and another count of attempting to abduct a child.

The arrest came following a raid on Ms Oldroyd’s home on Friday night. Police said she was arrested for allegedly refusing to provide information on the whereabouts of Grace and her mother Laura Hinks, aka Laura Bolt.

Five-year-old Grace Hughes has been missing since Sunday.

It’s alleged Grace was taken without permission by her mother during a supervised parental visit in Berrimah on Sunday August 7. Police believe the pair may have travelled interstate.

Ms Oldroyd was applauded by a group of people who call themselves “sovereign citizens” when she appeared in court to answer the charges on Monday.

While in court she alluded to allegations she said she had made against “judges, police officers, members of government, lawyers in this town, high up people” and said she would not apply for bail or enter a plea, adding she feels “safe” at the prison. Her matter was held over to August 22.

Sgt Beer called for anyone with information about Grace and her mother’s whereabouts to contact police immediately.

“Any persons inside this group or any members of the public that have any knowledge of Grace’s abduction are urged to come forward and contact police on 131 444 or anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000,” he said.