Teen prisoners riot again at Parkville Youth Justice Centre
LATEST: VICTORIA Police and the Department of Human Services have launched investigations into the latest riot at Melbourne Youth Justice Centre overnight.
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VICTORIA Police and the Department of Human Services have launched investigations into the latest riot at Melbourne Youth Justice Centre overnight.
Youth Affairs Minister Jenny Mikakos said she strongly condemned the “completely unacceptable behaviour” of the people involved.
“We are developing a range of tougher measures to ensure we put a stop to this,” she said.
Spokesman for the Department of Human Services, Mike Griffin, said there were no injuries to staff or young people during the incident.
“Police are investigating,” Mr Griffin said.
“The behaviour of these clients on Saturday was unacceptable and staff shouldn’t have to tolerate it.
“The Department will thoroughly examine the circumstances leading up to the incident.”
According to the department, there were “less than 20 people” involved in the riot.
Earlier the state government said the latest Melbourne Youth Justice Centre riots, involving 30 youths trashing their cells overnight, was unfortunate.
Planning Minister Richard Wynne said the government was concerned by last night’s riot.
“This is a really unfortunate incident,” Mr Wynne said.
“We shouldn’t forget the previous government cut 20 positions out of the youth justice centre and in fact we have just putting back in another 41 staff to ensure the centre remains secure.
“Obviously my colleague, (Youth Affairs Minister Jenny) Mikakos has got an investigation going on into previous events there and we await further advice in relation to that investigation.”
Mr Wynne’s comments follow reports up to 30 youths would be without beds overnight as they had badly “trashed” their cells, a prisoner insider told the Sunday Herald Sun.
And in a separate incident a prison guard at a Truganina adult jail was injured after being attacked.
It is understood the ringleader of last night’s incident at the youth centre had instigated previous riots.
One eyewitness described the scene outside the Park St centre as “something hectic happening” shortly after 9pm.
Victoria Police said they responded to “a disturbance at a juvenile justice facility on Park Street”. “A number of police units were on scene assisting the Department of Health and Human Services to resolve the situation,” a police spokesman said.
A health department spokesman declined to comment.
Ambulance Victoria spokes
man John Mullen confirmed paramedics responded to an incident at 8.51pm.
“Paramedics were called out to an incident, involving youths on the roof,” Mr Mullen said. “There are no reports of any injuries; we are on standby at the scene now.”
At Port Phillip Prison, in Truganina, a prisoner believed to be high on ice attacked four prison officers after they attempted to search his cell.
One guard was transferred to hospital suffering serious neck injuries.
The police tactical operations group was deployed and capsicum spray was used to control the prisoner.
Community and Public Sector Union spokesman Julian Kennelly said this incident was the most recent in a long line of violent assaults on prison guards.
“Port Phillip Prison is the worst prison in the state,” he said. “An assault happens more than once a week at Port Phillip.
“The place is flooded with contraband following weekend visits and drug detection devices are inferior to every other prison in the state, which leads to incidents like these.”