Rioting teens and young offenders cost taxpayers $10m in damage and repair works

Young offenders who rioted at the Parkville and Malmsbury centres have racked up a multimillion-dollar repair bill at the damaged and ageing facilities, which taxpayers must foot.

Police at the Parkville Youth Justice Precint after the riot in 2017. Picture: Tony Gough

Taxpayers have footed a bill of more than $10 million to fix Victoria’s damaged youth justice centres as rampaging youths continue to cause chaos.

The Herald Sun can reveal the mounting cost hit $7.1 million in the past two years for damage and repair works at the Parkville and Malmsbury centres.

This is on top of $3.3 million spent after dozens of youths ransacked units in Parkville during riot incidents, destroying walls, ceilings and beds in 2016 and 2017.

It is understood the majority of the latest costs relate to damage caused by youth offenders.

However, some of the money was also spent on maintenance and improving security as a result of increasing unrest within the facilities.

Some damage caused in the Parkville youth justice centre riots.

The shocking riots in 2016 and 2017 were blamed on overcrowding and a lack of services including classes and rehabilitation.

In January 2017, up to 15 youths escaped from the Malmsbury centre in central Victoria, with some carjacking vehicles and heading on a statewide crime spree.

The violent and destructive events resulted in tougher penalties for youths and the Andrews Government pushing to have four 18-year-olds — who rioted at the Malmsbury facility — remanded on charges of criminal damage.

While there have been fewer major incidents since, staff routinely deal with out-of-control youths.

Taxpayers have footed a bill of more than $10 million to fix Victoria’s damaged youth justice centres.

Dozens of youths ransacked units in Parkville during riot incidents over two years.

Last year about 100 youth justice centre employees left the centres — which hundreds of residents aged between 10 and 24 years olds — after a serious of vicious attacks including one guard who was scalped when attacked with a guitar.

Despite the large bill a department spokeswoman said: “The cost of repairs due to client damage and other unplanned maintenance is tracking significantly lower for the current financial year compared to previous years.

“Significant fortification and strengthening works have been undertaken already and are continuing within both youth justice custodial centres.”

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Minister for Youth Justice Ben Carroll said the government was continuing to create change within the sector.

“We’ve invested more than $1 billion in the last four years to overhaul the youth justice system, delivering more and better trained and equipped staff, and upgrading infrastructure to keep the community safe.

“Young offenders who damage property while in custody are subject to strict new laws, introduced by the Labor Government.”

Opposition youth justice spokesman Brad Battin said riots, assaults and destruction of property occurred regularly.

“This massive damage bill shows just how out of control our youth justice system is, and still Daniel Andrews has no plan to fix this mess.”

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