There are 25 children currently in the police watch house, following the riot that started when two detainees assaulted a youth justice worker with a metal bar and stole his keys, before releasing other detainees and setting an education building on fire.

"Until we get in and have a good look at the extent of the damage and how quickly we can get the CCTV up, that will have an impact on how quickly we can get back into the facility," Territory Families Minister Dale Wakefield told reporters.

Australian Associated Press