Crime wave fears as ultra-violent teen gangs take over Parkville youth prison
Nearly 100 youngsters at Victoria’s biggest youth justice centre have joined a gang, sparking fears of a teenage crime wave when they are freed. And this is what the new ultra-violent gangs are called.
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Three-quarters of inmates in the state’s biggest youth justice prison are now gang members, according to guards.
About 94 youngsters at the 125-capacity Parkville Youth Justice Centre are aligned to gangs, sparking fears of a crime wave when they are released.
Victoria Police has vowed to track all the gang members when they return to the community.
The Opposition said many children entering the system for minor offences were being groomed inside.
Guards have told the Herald Sun that new ultra-violent gangs include Squad Shit Only and Next Generation Soldiers.
Their established rivals include Menace To Society, Blood Drill Killers, Brotherhood and 62.
Opposition spokesman for youth justice, Brad Battin, said kids who entered the youth justice system for minor offences were often preyed upon by hardened gangsters, offering protection while inside.
Once released, these new recruits were expected to perform high-level crimes as repayment, he said.
“Prisons are a fantastic recruiting ground to get young, vulnerable people,” Mr Battin added.
“These kids come out and commit more violent crimes. It’s going to get worse and worse if we continue to put vulnerable kids in with hardened criminals.”
The explosion in the number of gang members has raised tensions at Parkville to boiling point.
One guard said prison units have had to be split to keep warring gangs apart.
Superintendent David Jones of Victoria Police said they were aware of the gangs and would monitor members upon their release.
“We recognise that juvenile detention brings young offenders together which provides an opportunity for them to become more networked and maintain relationships on the outside,” he said.
“Police are notified before youths are released, and plan so they can make house visits almost immediately.”
The prison gangs include inmates of south Sudanese, Asian, Pacific Islander and caucasian heritage.
They are extremely violent and have been locked up for crimes including home invasions, assaults, carjackings and aggravated robberies across Melbourne.
Parkville Youth Justice Centre has six units, in which gang members are segregated. They are also kept apart at meal times and in classes and programs, a prison guard said.
Supt Jones said police were “confident we know the identities of the majority of young people involved in street gangs” in Melbourne.
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This intelligence had been used to disrupt criminal activity and make “significant arrests” in recent months.
Community and Public Sector Union spokesman Julian Kennelly said Parkville staff were put in constant danger by youths “trying to kill each other” behind bars.
A Department of Justice and Community Safety spokesman said it was focused on rehabilitating the worst offenders.
“We’re establishing an Intensive Intervention Unit at Parkville to provide the capability to appropriately manage young people who pose a high risk of violence,” the spokesman said.