Former detainee gives insight into Cavan

A former detainee has spoken exclusively to 7News, describing how Cavan Training Centre, in Adelaide's far-northern suburbs, is a recruiting ground for criminal gangs.

The training centre was recently in the spotlight, after a group of eight escaped the complex in February.

The detainee, who doesn't want to be identified, has been a convicted criminal since he was 16-years-old and was released from Cavan Training Centre two weeks ago, after he was incarcerated for assault.

He said young criminals trade tactics while inside.

"You trade stories with each other, how you got in there, how you stuffed up and pretty much your mistakes."

"If someone does a home invasion and leaves fingerprints you learn from their mistakes.. so you don't get busted the same way they did."

"So you can do pretty much what we call it, the 'perfect crime'," he said.

He says it is not uncommon for repeat offenders to develop and strengthen criminal ties with gangs.

"The 'Gang of 49' have friends and family in there," he said, " They recruit them so they have more than one person to do the crime with on the outside."

The former detainee says he has reformed and wants to change his ways, but admits he played a key role in February's escape by helping to create a diversion.

He sad he gave the signal for the other detainees to start a play-fight, which distracted guards while the escapees fled through a hole cut through one of the surrounding fences.

"It was just too easy," he said, " Really it was just well organised through the boys."