Four teens accused of trashing Malmsbury youth prison riot to be sent back
FOUR violent teenagers accused of trashing Malmsbury youth prison will be sent back despite the operations manager saying the detention centre can’t control them.
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FOUR violent teenagers accused of trashing Malmsbury youth prison will be sent back despite the operations manager saying the detention centre can’t control them.
Bendigo Magistrate Sarah Leighfield ordered the youths, aged 18 and 19, stay over the weekend despite impassioned pleas from prosecution urging her to reconsider.
Ms Leighfield made the decision to return the young thugs to the ruined facility after ruling she was unable to finalise a police bid to move them to an adult jail on Friday.
“Until I’ve heard everything hear I’m not going to put them into adult custody,” Ms Leighfield said, saying the application would continue on Monday morning.
The teens each face criminal damage charges.
Two 17-year-olds also accused of involvement will appear at a Children’s Court at a later date.
One of the youths, 18, is charged over the high-profile West Gate Bridge police chase, which followed a spate of armed robberies, in November.
The court heard an 18 and 19-year-old had previously bashed Malmsbury staff and this is the second time authorities have tried to move the 19-year-old from juvenile detention to an adult prison.
The 19-year-old is currently serving a magistrates’ court sentence.
Police prosecutor Cherree Blair urged Ms Leighfield twice not to rehouse them in youth prison for the weekend, fearing for the safety of other inmates and staff.
“I would obviously urge you against that,” Senior Constable Blair said.
It came after evidence from Malmsbury operations manager Rick Madigan, who told the court the none of the accused teens could be properly controlled.
“Given we had to resort to getting the (Victoria Police) CIRT team and public disorder response team ... I think that more than shows that they can’t be properly controlled,” Mr Madigan said.
He told Ms Leighfield that the teens were looking forward to going to adult prison as a result of the rampage.
In a detail summary read to court, Sen-Constable Blair said the riot began in the B Wing at 1.15pm on Thursday, with the mob using cheese to cover the security cameras.
They entered an office and broke the metal legs from a desk, using them to damage the prison and menace staff, Sen-Constable Blair said.
The six teens allegedly smashed they way into an external courtyard, bashing at windows and threatening staff inside.
The court heard the group caused $65,000 worth of damage, with 30 windows, a washing machine, two air conditioning units, 17 cameras and two lights destroyed, among other property.
The police Critical Incident Response Team was called in after centre emergency staff failed to negotiate with the unruly prisoners, with the stand-off ending about 6pm.
Sen-Constable Blair said more charges were likely to be laid.
Staff are now scrambling to find suitable beds for the accused teens, with much of the centre rendered unusable from the damage.
In making the temporary decision, Ms Leighfield said she was yet to hear all the evidence and needed to know whether any of the teens would be vulnerable in adult prison.
After two riots at facilities in less than a week Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said the Andrews Government had lost control of the issue.
“I am not sure how many excuses this minister needs, blaming everyone else and not taking responsibility. The last 24 hours shows the system is still in crisis.’’
With four of the offenders being over 18-years-old, Mr Guy also flagged a review of the dual-track system, which allows offenders aged up to 21 years old to be housed in Victorian youth facilities.
Youth Affairs Minister Jenny Mikakos rejected claims she had lost control and said she will not step down.
“These are challenges that are not able to be turned around overnight however I am very focused
on this task,’’ she said.
Police and the State Government have previously acknowledged youth offenders are becoming increasingly violent inside as well as out in the community.
In the bid to tackle the concerning public safety issue, Premier Daniel Andrews unveiled a sweeping youth justice reform package costing $32 million last December.
He also flagged a new youth justice centre was to be built in Victoria.
Director of secure services Ian Lanyon said no one was injured in the Malmsbury incident and other youths in the unit refused to become involved.