Three workers attacked in a week at Parkville, Malmsbury youth prisons

A worker has been left bloodied after he was kicked to the ground and slashed with a shiv in a violent attack at a notorious youth prison.

Two workers were attacked at Parkville Youth Justice Centre in the past week.

A youth worker has been slashed with a prison shiv in a violent attack at Parkville Youth Justice Centre.

The incident is the latest in a spate of attacks inside the youth justice system.

The Community and Public Sector Union said two offenders at the Parkville facility launched an attack at a basketball court inside the complex.

The staff member was punched and kicked to the ground before the assailants demanded his security keys.

The union said that when he refused, one of the attackers swung a sharpened screw, leaving a deep slash mark under the staff member’s left eye.

The CPSU has called for WorkSafe to investigate Tuesday afternoon’s incident.

It comes amid calls for the removal of the most violent youth prisoners after three prison workers were sent to hospital in the wake of assaults in the past week.

The Community and Public Sector Union, which represents youth justice staff, says a handful of the worst offenders are jeopardising the safety of everyone in the system.

The assaults, at the Parkville and Malmsbury youth justice centres, have again brought the safety of workers at the facilities into sharp focus.

Two officers were attacked at Parkville on Sunday night and driven to hospital by co-workers.

The Herald Sun has been told a male staff member suffered a fractured arm and a female colleague was punched in the face during the incident.

The Malmsbury attack, at 7.30pm last Monday, took place in a secure unit.

Sources said the attack was premeditated with inmates distracting other officers during the onslaught.

The man was hit more than 20 times and his head was stomped on after he fell to the floor.

Another attack also took place at Malmsbury Juvenile Justice Centre.

The Herald Sun has been told the victim, an acting supervisor, suffered a broken jaw and was taken to hospital.

He underwent surgery to have titanium plates inserted.

A Victoria Police spokesperson said the alleged offender would be interviewed at a later date.

Although official staff attack figures are down, workers remain concerned about the level of violence to which they are subjected.

Community and Public Sector Union secretary Karen Batt said the assaults undermined confidence in staff, which had grown in recent times, accompanied by less absenteeism.

“We cannot sustain this recent increase in assaults on staff, who are vulnerable if left without support at the critical time around evening lockdowns,” Ms Batt said.

“These violent few need to be charged and removed, otherwise the safety of all inside is placed in jeopardy.”

A Department of Justice and Community Safety spokeswoman said all staff members had been released from hospital and were in a stable condition.

“Violence toward staff is absolutely unacceptable and safety is of utmost importance in our youth justice centres,” the spokeswoman said.

“We take a zero-tolerance approach to violence and assaults in youth justice centres and all incidents are referred to Victoria Police.”

Shadow justice minister David Southwick said he was disgusted by the attack.

“It seems as though staff are being used as punching bags as violence spirals out of control at Parkville and Malmsbury,” Mr Southwick said.

“It will only be a matter of time for a lifelong injury or worse still, a life to be lost.”