Alcoholic makes dry run from NT lock-up THE Northern Territory's attorney-general has defended a mandatory alcohol treatment facility in Darwin after one of its first inmates escaped. A 31-year-old problem drinker fled from the former medi-hotel on the grounds of Royal Darwin hospital about 9pm on Monday night. He had been detained for four days as part of the assessment phase under the new Alcohol Mandatory Treatment Tribunal. Drinkers picked up by police three times in two months will be assessed under new laws that could see them detained for forced rehabilitation for three months. "It demonstrates that this policy is starting to bite the people it's targeted at, which is the people in our parks and gardens on a daily basis making a nuisance of themselves," Attorney-General and acting Health Minister John Elferink told reporters in Darwin on Tuesday. The man was being held in a locked room in a locked compound and was checked on by a staff member every 15 minutes. It seems absurd to claim that people running away before undergoing any rehabilitation is proof that this policy works, said Michael Gunner, shadow minister for alcohol policy and police. He said health and legal experts told the government the policy wouldn't work, but were told by Chief Minister Adam Giles "to piss off." "And as soon as someone's been picked up they've done just that and pissed off," Mr Gunner said. There are currently four secure rehabilitation centres in the NT, in Darwin, Alice Springs, Katherine and Nhulunbuy, with two more coming to Tennant Creek and the Tiwi Islands. Up to 800 alcoholics a year will be treated as police increase patrols of hotspots and arrest more people for being drunk and disorderly. Rehabilitation will include medical treatment, work preparation and life skills training. Mr Elferink said the escapee would not be punished when found, but that security around him would be intensified. "This is a health intervention, this is not a prison," he said. This particular chap has not committed a criminal offence, he has engaged in conduct which is destructive to himself, his family and the community. A 46-year-old Alice Springs woman became the first person sent to mandatory alcohol rehabilitation last week, after being picked up three times by police. She told the tribunal she knew she had a drinking problem and asked to go to rehab.