WorkSafe report finds ‘system failures’ were behind Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre riot

A damning new report has revealed what led to a chaotic riot at Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre in which staff were taken hostage last month.

System failures were found to be behind the Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre.

Chaos at a youth jail in which staff were taken hostage came amid system failures that allowed inmates to get hold of keys, a damning report has found.

A WorkSafe official’s inspection found that management of the Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre could not provide any evidence that the risk of keys being taken from staff had been addressed, despite warnings in previous security reviews.

Her summary of the frightening incident – based on CCTV and interviews with staff – said it began on the morning of October 3 when a young offender assaulted a security and emergency services group officer.

That teen was moved to a holding cell before being shifted to the centre’s Monash unit where he was held with five others in its B wing.

‘System failures’ have been revealed as the reason for Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre riot in October.

Just before 2pm, two corrections officers were threatened and physically forced to open a storeroom.

“Young persons were able to arm themselves with equipment from the storeroom. The two correctional officers retreated from the Monash unit,” the report said.

Two hours later in the Deakin unit, a detainee pulled an “item” from his pocket and held it to a corrections officer, forcing her to open a corridor area before she was ordered to unlock bedroom doors.

The inspector wrote that keys were then taken from the corrections officer and the inmates “armed themselves with equipment”.

Using the stolen keys, those youths then went to the Monash unit and joined with its detainees to head for the Topaz and Opal units.

The mob of 13 got into a secure office space – where there were other staff – and took more keys.

Previous security reviews had warned of a risk inmates taking keys from staff.

Safety and emergency response team officers then moved in and used OC spray to subdue the inmates.

The report referred to former Victoria Police chief commissioner Neil Comrie’s review into a 2017 riot and mass escape at Malmsbury in which keys were snatched by troublemakers. It noted Mr Comrie’s inquiry had recommended the use of keys and their access by detainees be reviewed so they could not get into other units.

It also cited a separate review that said management should address Mr Comrie’s findings and “ensure issues are remediated immediately.”

Inmates were able to arm themselves with equipment in the storeroom for the attack.

The WorkSafe inspector wrote that, despite this, there was no system that addressed the risk of keys being taken from correctional officers and used to get to unauthorised areas.

“The above reports and reviews highlight that the risks and potential consequences relating to keys being taken by young people to access areas that they are not authorised to go were identified and known when the incident of 3 October 2023 occurred,” the report says.

A WorkSafe improvement notice was issued ordering that systems relating to access and control of keys to stop unauthorised access to units be fixed by November 17.

A Department of Justice and Community Safety spokesperson said: “The safety and security of young people and staff in youth justice remains our highest priority.”

Malmsbury is scheduled to close by the end of this year