Young inmates assault staff, breach secure area at Parkville Youth Justice Precinct

Young inmates have assaulted staff and breached a secure area in another troubling incident at Melbourne’s Parkville Youth Justice Precinct.

Young inmates have assaulted staff and breached a secure area in a major incident at Melbourne’s youth jail.

Justice sources have told the Herald Sun inmates have wreaked havoc at the Parkville facility throughout the week with security incidents on multiple nights.

On Tuesday, inmates allegedly assaulted staff and used a staff pass to access a secure area.

In a separate incident an inmate allegedly used a fire extinguisher to threaten staff.

The Parkville youth jail has been hit with a number of serious incidents over the past two months. Picture: Sarah Matray

A Department of Justice and Community Safety spokesperson said matters would be referred to Victoria Police.

They said Tuesday’s incident was resolved quickly and safely and there were no injuries among staff or inmates.

Opposition Corrections spokesman Brad Battin said Victoria was in the midst of a youth crime crisis.

“The Allan Labor government has failed to address serious security concerns in Parkville Youth Detention centre putting staff at risk every day,” he said.

“If the government doesn’t act soon more workers will resign as they fear for their safety and calls for support fall on the deaf ears of the Allan Labor government.”

The latest unrest at the facility follows a number of violent acts against workers at the state’s youth jails.

In October two inmates at the jail held a female prison guard captive while holding a shiv to her throat.

In a similar attack in July, inmates detained over an alleged murder held a makeshift knife to the throat of a staff member and stole their access cards at the Cherry Creek Youth Justice Centre west of Werribee.

Two inmates also stabbed and beat another detainee in the jail in September.