Youths held unauthorised pool party before violent rampage at Parkville
YOUNG inmates threw an unauthorised pool party shortly before they went on yet another rampage at a notorious youth justice facility.
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YOUNG inmates threw an unauthorised pool party shortly before they went on yet another rampage at a notorious youth justice facility.
Several detainees were playing a scheduled game of basketball at Parkville Youth Justice Centre on Saturday evening before six of them broke off and made their way to the swimming pool.
The Herald Sun understands the teens jumped in the pool and refused to get out when ordered to by staff.
An insider said the out-of-control youngsters broke pool fencing apart to use as makeshift weapons before breaking another detainee out of a cell after getting into a roof cavity.
Police had to rush to the facility on Saturday amid another night of rioting in which the six young inmates began causing mayhem at 7.45pm.
About 35 police brought the situation under control and the incident was deemed closed at 1.20am yesterday, with the seven youngsters moved to Malmsbury and the Grevillea Unit at Barwon prison.
The youngsters involved in the latest rioting have been involved in trouble before in youth detention. Authorities fear young detainees are exploiting infrastructure weaknesses at the facility.
Families and Children Minister Jenny Mikakos called those in youth detention “the worst of the worst”.
Parkville has been plagued by riots in the past 10 months.
“We have some serious shortcomings ... the Parkville facility is clearly not fit for purpose,” Ms Mikakos said.
“The infrastructure limitations have become very apparent to the young offenders and they are taking advantage of the situation.”
Fortification works are ongoing “around the clock” to try to make Parkville more secure.
Anti-climb wire has been installed in recent months on the top of buildings.
“It’s ridiculous to have offenders locked in their cells able to break through their ceiling and get out,” Ms Mikakos told 3AW.
“That’s what happened on Saturday and it’s a recurring issue. We want to make sure this behaviour doesn’t continue.”
Ms Mikakos said the state government would build a new youth justice centre.
Director of secure services at the Department of Health and Human Services, Ian Lanyon, said: “These are really complex environments we are dealing with and really challenging behaviour.
“These kids are in there because of their alleged offences of a violent nature. When they are in with us, they are presenting with similar behaviours. As a consequence, police are investigating these matters and I expect that charges will be laid. As a direct consequence, they will be subjected to intensive individual behaviour-management plans.”
Opposition youth affairs spokeswoman Georgie Crozier said: “We have an ongoing crisis in the youth justice system.
“Jenny Mikakos has totally mismanaged this whole situation for many months. Daniel Andrews needs to return from holidays, he needs to sack Jenny Mikakos and he needs to take control.
“This is completely unacceptable. Victorians expect and deserve better.”
The State Government initiated a business case last year regarding the redevelopment of Parkville.
Ms Mikakos said she had expedited that process to ensure the government could move forward with a new facility as soon as possible. “Most importantly we need to build a new facility,” Ms Mikakos said.
RAMPAGE TIMELINE OF PARKVILLE RIOTS
March 6, 2016 — A group of six boys riot on the roof of the Youth Justice Centre in Melbourne for almost seven hours.
May 6, 2016 — A boy and another inmate arm themselves at Parkville with tennis rackets, then kick open the staff locker room and push one of the lockers down a set of stairs, forcing staff to retreat. They then broke off sections of wooden shelving and brandished them at staff.
August 17, 2016 — Youths spent hours on a roof, causing lengthy lockdowns. It is believed a group climbed on to the roof of an accommodation building about 3pm and remained there through most of the evening.
November 13, 2016 — Youths rioted inside Parkville where up to 30 rampaging teen inmates trashed their cells and pulled security cameras from the walls. Some of the youths had climbed on the roof armed with garden tools.
November 14, 2016 — About 40 inmates were involved in a riot at the juvenile jail at Parkville, some wielding garden equipment.
On November 17, teenagers were transferred to Barwon Prison in November after the Parkville Youth Justice Centre was damaged in riots.
December 28, 2016 — The Victorian Government failed in its bid to overturn the decision that said housing youths in Barwon was illegal.
January 3, 2017 — Youths from Parkville riot in Grevillea unit of Barwon prison causing thousands of dollars’ worth of damage.
January 6th, 2017 — An escape attempt by a teenager inside Parkville was thwarted. The teen climbed into a roof cavity and made his way through the facility.
January 7th, 2017 — A riot is sparked after inmates are involved in a brawl. More than 35 police officers were on site, including the critical incident response team, the public order response team, the dog squad, police air wing, uniform police and paramedics.