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Task force to track down missing NT girl

Tim DorninAAP
Police in the NT have described the alleged abduction of five-year-old Grace Hughes as "despicable". (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)
Camera IconPolice in the NT have described the alleged abduction of five-year-old Grace Hughes as "despicable". (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS) Credit: AAP

A special police task force has been established to find a missing Northern Territory girl, with the actions of those alleged to be hiding the five-year-old labelled "despicable".

Police say the dedicated multi-agency task force will draw on specialist support from other jurisdictions, including the Australian Federal Police, in a bid to find Grace Hughes.

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Jon Beer said the group that claims to have abducted the girl continued to peddle ideologies and false information that had no regard for the mental wellbeing of a young child.

"The conduct of this group is despicable," he said.

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"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."

Last weekend, a 50-year-old woman was charged over the alleged abduction.

She appeared in court in Darwin on Monday on one count of abducting a child under 16 and one count of attempting to abduct a child under 16.

Her case will return to court next week.

Police said Grace and her mother Laura Hinks, also known as Laura Bolt, were last seen in the Darwin suburb of Berrimah.

But after a parental visit Ms Hinks, 34, left an address at Hidden Valley Road, and both disappeared.

Ms Hinks' last known address was in Moulden, but she no longer appeared to be living there.

Grace is described as having a fair complexion with brown hair and eyes. She was last seen wearing a short-sleeved white dress, as well as white socks and black sneakers.

Her mother has a fair complexion, a slim build and dark hair and eyes.

She was last seen wearing a white and green floral-patterned ankle-length dress or skirt, with a white or cream long-sleeved shirt.

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