Lost Boys: Gangs warring inside NSW juvenile justice centres

They are drawing blood on the outside, but tensions between rival gangs are just as high inside the juvenile justice system where staff are engaged in a daily struggle to keep members apart.

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A bloody turf war between rival Western Sydney gangs has spread to the juvenile justice system, where members threaten to tear each other apart.

A Juvenile Justice NSW insider said staff must ensure members of the Greater West gang are kept separated from those belonging to the Inner Western Brotherhood.

The gangs have been fighting over territory, with escalating tensions culminating in an armed daylight brawl outside Parramatta Westfield.

Greater West gang and Inner Western Brotherhood members fight over territory outside Parramatta Westfield. Picture: 7News

Police at the time claimed tensions between the two gangs had been brewing for several years.

Other self-described gang members in the system include the “Seven Hills Boys” or “SHB”, “Blacktown Boys” and Mt Druitt-based gang “One-Four”.

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Around 20 inmates have links with outside gangs, although staff said they try to boost their numbers once inside — and work together when required.

“If we have a bunch of kids from Wollongong come in, the Sydney guys tend to get together and it becomes a Sydney versus Wollongong thing,” a juvenile justice source said.

Incidents that occur on the outside can escalate tensions inside, such as the stabbing death of former Arthur Phillip High School student Tinorei Henry a year ago. That saw his associates seek “revenge”.

Rival gang members battle against each other in juvenile justice centres. Picture: AAP/Dean Lewins

“Poor management from senior executives in preparing for this increase in gangs is one of the issues that staff are not happy about,” a juvenile justice source said.

“The increase in weaponry such as blades and shivs is directly linked into increased gang activities in JJ.

“The public may think that young people in our system are in for general crimes or just minor offences. In reality, there is a growing amount of detainees within our system that are part of a violent gang culture, a culture that is becoming more sophisticated in a criminal sense.”

As for sex offenders, staff assess who they may mix with.