Inmates riot at Melbourne youth detention centre with 35 police and dogs called in

RIOT police stormed a Melbourne youth justice centre overnight as up to 20 prisoners broke out of a secure area into a roof cavity.

RIOT police stormed a Melbourne youth detention centre overnight as prisoners tried to break out of a secure area.

Staff were evacuated and more than 35 police were brought in, including the public order response team and the dog squad, to bring a riot under control at the Melbourne Youth Justice Centre in Parkville.

A group of up to 20 inmates had broken out of the southern secure unit of the centre and were trying to force their way into another unit about 8pm on Saturday night.

It’s being reported that a number of inmates broke into the roof cavity of the building, causing staff to flee.

The inmates broke out of the southern secure unit of the centre and tried to force their way into another unit about 8pm last night. Picture: Tony Gough

The young offenders broke into the roof cavity at the Melbourne Youth Justice Centre, causing staff to flee. Picture: Tony Gough

More than 35 police were brought in, including the public order response team and dog squad. Picture Tony Gough

Victoria Police said on Sunday morning that all those involved in the disturbance were located and accounted for by about 1.20am.

A number of prisoners were removed from the facility and will be assisting police with their inquiries.

A Department of Health and Human Services spokesman said there were no injuries during the incident and damage to the facility would now be assessed. The latest disturbance follows a series of incidents at Victorian youth justice facilities, including a riot at Parkville in mid-November in which about 30 inmates trashed their cells, and another disturbance at the Malmsbury detention centre.

All prisoners were accounted for by 1.20am, with a number removed from the facility. They will assist police with their inquiries. Picture Tony Gough

A police prisoner transport van exits the Parkville Youth Justice Precint after the matter was resolved. Picture: Tony Gough

The disturbance follows a series of incidents at Victorian youth justice facilities, including a riot at Parkville in mid-November in which about 30 inmates trashed their cells. Picture Tony Gough

Some of the youths involved in those disturbances were transferred to the state’s highest security adult prison, Barwon.

The youths remain in the prison’s Grevillea unit in single cells despite two courts ordering they be moved to more suitable facilities.

Lawyers challenged the transfer in the Supreme Court, which found the government had acted unlawfully.

The government appealed and lost, with the Court of Appeal ordering them to move the teens, but the government instead rebranded the Grevillea unit as a youth facility.