Teen offenders threaten tradies repairing riot damage

YOUTH offenders are threatening tradesmen at the Parkville and Malmsbury justice centres as construction to fix millions of dollars worth of riot damage continues.

Tradies were evacuated from the Malmsbury centre when they were threatened in January. Picture: Stock image

• Rampaging teens cost millions in repairs

YOUTH offenders are threatening tradesmen at the Parkville and Malmsbury justice centres as construction to fix millions of dollars worth of riot damage continues.

The Herald Sun can reveal juvenile thugs have stolen tools, physically intimidated workmen and been caught preparing to use furniture as weapons while contractors were on site.

Safety concerns have been raised with management by tradies on several occasions and they said it was contributing to delays as they attempt to repair more than $10 million of damage caused by previous rampages inside the facilities.

In January, tradesmen were evacuated from the Malmsbury centre when they were threatened by a group of youths, who later staged a mass break out.

Parkville contractors reported detainees hanging around a job site three times before a claw hammer was stolen and used to hit a female employee in the head in March.

Less than a month later a company walked off the Melbourne job site claiming unsafe working conditions, however Worksafe inspectors could not substantiate the claim.

Police respond to rioting at the Parkville Youth Justice Centre. Picture: Tony Gough

Documents seen by the Herald Sun revealed a suite of violent reports in the centres amid the ongoing restoration works.

In the bid to quell youth justice uprisings the Andrews Government has proposed a crackdown to parliament, which is currently before the Legislative Council.

It includes tougher sentences for rioting and attacking guards which will be added to the end of a youth’s current term of detention.

Government spokesman Nathan Motton said unrest would not be tolerated.

“We are introducing the toughest ever consequences for assaulting staff, damaging property, escaping or attempting to escape whilst incarcerated,” Mr Motton said.

“We’re rebuilding the entire youth justice system, after four years of neglect by the Liberals.”

Conditions have been increasingly hostile in the centres since June 2010 with more than $7.6 million in workplace claims over the same period including broken hands, noses, toes, facial injuries and stabbings.

Up to 30 employees have taken stress leave in the last two years totalling more than $600,000 in payouts.

Opposition spokeswoman Georgie Crozier said the system was operating in crisis mode and costing taxpayers.

“Victorian households are already doing it tough with cost of living pressures and can’t afford a government that continues to lose money due to poor management,” she said.

A scathing report by former Victoria Police chief Commissioner Neil Comrie released earlier this year, declared the Parkville centre should be closed.

It is understood the report prompted Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos to unveil plans for a new $288 million centre in Melbourne’s west to hold 244 youths.

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