Malmsbury youth justice centre escape, riots plunge Andrews Government into crisis
CORRECTIONS officers will take over teen jail security and a new supermax youth prison built amid anger over the Andrews Government’s handling of the youth crime crisis.
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- As it happened: Malmsbury mass breakout sparks violent crime wave
- Grieving elderly man carjacked by escapees
- Thug boasts about jail escape
CORRECTIONS officers will take over security at teen jails and a new supermax youth prison built amid anger from victims and some Labor MPs over the Andrews Government’s handling of the youth crime crisis.
A crisis meeting called by Premier Daniel Andrews yesterday agreed Corrections Victoria staff should move into Parkville and Malmsbury justice centres to re-establish control.
The last two escapees from Malmsbury were captured about 3pm yesterday, more than a day after 15 youths broke out of the centre, triggering a terrifying rampage of carjackings and robberies, and even a home invasion by machete-wielding fugitives.
CIVILIANS ATTACKED IN ESCAPEE CRIME WAVE
Labor MPs privately admit the latest prison breakout and ensuing crime spree are a “disaster”, coming just days after it emerged the man accused of the Bourke St massacre was on bail.
Youth Affairs Minister Jenny Mikakos came under fire for failing to address the Malmsbury issue for more than 20 hours. Some MPs said the Premier looked like he was in “hiding”, saying “something has to change”.
Victoria’s worst teen criminals will be locked up in the new supermax youth prison. The Herald Sun understands the new prison is likely to be built in the corrections precinct in Melbourne’s outer west, near adult jails.
Premier Daniel Andrews yesterday held an urgent Cabinet subcommittee meeting with justice, emergency services, human services and police ministers to consider how to deal with the escalating crisis.
It was agreed that Corrections Victoria staff should move in to the Parkville and Malmsbury youth justice centres from Friday.
Work on long-term solutions to out-of-control youth offenders, including the new youth prison, will continue.
Labor MPs privately agree the latest wave of youth lawlessness is a “disaster” for the government.
Some say it will put intense pressure on the Premier. Others are demanding that “something has to change”.
But supporters of Mr Andrews, who has returned from leave to address the crisis, defended the response to the Malmsbury outbreaks. They said sacking embattled Youth Affairs Minister Jenny Mikakos would achieve nothing.
But other MPs said the Premier looked as though he was “hiding”, and should have shown leadership by standing shoulder to shoulder with Ms Mikakos at a press conference yesterday morning.
“Where was he?” one asked.
Another MP said it was “ridiculous” to talk about the Premier taking the fall for a system that was “stuffed before we came in”.
Earlier yesterday Mr Andrews said Ms Mikakos had his “full confidence” and was “doing the best she can in challenging circumstances”.
It was around 2.30pm on Wednesday when 15 inmates escaped from the Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre.
It was not until 11am yesterday that Ms Mikakos made any kind of statement.
Ms Mikakos said she had been at home on leave on Wednesday.
She said she had been “kept abreast” of the escape and returned to work yesterday morning to deal with the crisis.
Conceding that Victorians had lost confidence in the state’s youth justice system, Ms Mikakos said she was determined to deliver a new “fit-for-purpose” juvenile jail.
“I have been back at work today, and I will be back at work and have abandoned any short respite I had, to deal with these issues,” she said.
“I am very determined to turn these issues around.
“We cannot build a brand new facility overnight. We are going to be getting one, however, and it’s going to be a fit-for-purpose facility that is not going to enable these types of issues to occur again.”
Its level of security will be higher than previously used in detention centres for juveniles.
It is understood the government’s Budget review committee has been looking at the plan, which is in the final stages of being signed off.
Authorities have become increasingly concerned about a hardened core of juvenile offenders at the Parkville and Malmsbury youth justice centres holding the system to ransom, injuring other inmates and staff and influencing younger detainees.
Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said the system had become a “farce”.
“The government’s handling of it has been woeful, the minister’s handling of it has been inept, and still the Premier refuses to talk about the situation, what it means for all of us, and his government’s handling of law and order in this state,” Mr Guy said.
“The buck stops with the guy in charge, and that’s Daniel Andrews.
“He’s in charge and he’s got to take responsibility for what is a complete crisis in law and order in the state of Victoria,” Mr Guy said.
MALMSBURY TEEN JAIL HAS WIDESPREAD ISSUES: WORKSAFE
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