Police Minister Brent Potter says he has tried to contact the Politis family following an attack on their 85-year-old mother/grandmother in Nightcliff.

He told Katie Woolf he welcomes the decision for the alleged offender to face court in Wadeye, saying it reduces the risk of reoffending in Darwin.

Mr Potter says the government is focused on working with the families of kids under 12 as part of its new approach that will see Territory Families staff work alongside police to take youth on the streets to a safe place.

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