Victorian Supreme Court safe room built after teen rampage
A PURPOSE-BUILT room to detain young offenders has been created at Victoria’s highest court after an out-of-control teen facing serious violence offences trashed a room by throwing furniture, breaking a whiteboard and disfiguring a wall heater.
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VICTORIA’s highest court has been forced to create a purpose-built room to detain young offenders.
It comes after an out-of-control teen on remand trashed a Supreme Court room he was being detained in while facing serious violence offences at the court last month.
Sources have told the Herald Sun the boy threw furniture across the plush room and plastered the walls of the room with food.
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He also broke a whiteboard, disfigured a wall heater and tagged the back of a toilet door.
It is understood he was being monitored by youth workers, not prison guards, while being detained in the room.
The room is usually used by deliberating juries but has doubled as a space to hold young offenders who can’t be detained in the court’s holding cells because of a requirement they be separated from adult prisoners.
It was the same room given to Hollywood actor Rebel Wilson for her exclusive use during her epic Supreme Court defamation trial against Bauer Media.
But following the out-of-control incident, the Supreme Court has now created a purpose-built room to hold young offenders.
The Herald Sun understands the room has been substantially modified to ensure it is safe and secure and to ensure segregation from accused adult offenders.
It incorporates an area suitable for a professional consultation and has a toilet within the space.
It will also be remotely monitored by a CCTV camera that will send a live feed to the court’s security team and will have a duress alarm to seek an immediate PSO response.
The room is ready for use, with final works due for completion in the coming weeks.
Supreme Court spokeswoman Sarah Dolan said it was in the interests of their safety that youth offenders were separated from adult prisoners while at the Supreme Court.
“The requirement for segregation of children from adults is mandatory pursuant to the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006,” she said.
“In this instance, a youth offender was held in a separate room in the court building, during which an incident occurred.
“As a result of this incident the Supreme Court is creating a safe, purpose-built room for young offenders so they can remain on site while waiting for their matters to be heard.”