Three injured after inmates at Victoria’s troubled Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre riot

Staff at a notorious youth prison were reportedly taken hostage and gear was stolen from workers when a wild riot broke out.

Staff were reportedly taken hostage and gear stolen after a massive riot broke out at a notorious youth prison in Victoria.

Three people were taken to hospital with injuries during the chaos which unfolded at the Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre in central Victoria on Monday afternoon.

The Herald Sun reports prison staff were taken as hostages and keys and radios were also stolen from workers.

A staff member at Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre was hospitalised in March this year after being attacked by inmates. Picture: Supplied/Department of Justice and Community Safety

A Department of Justice and Community Safety statement said no staff were injured.

“Staff have responded quickly to resolve an incident at the Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre,” the statement said.

“Victoria Police were also on site to assist.”

The news is the latest in a long line of troubling incidents at Malmsbury, which has a history of detainee unrest.

The youth prison about 100km north east of Melbourne is set to close at the end of the year. Picture: Supplied

One staff member was hospitalised after being attacked by inmates in March this year.

Another riot at the prison erupted in August last year, with two inmates spending about 48 hours on the run before being caught and returned to the centre.

A 2019 report highlighted concerns from former guards that the prison was so out of control a staff member was bound to die unless changes were made.

In June, the Victorian government announced the facility would close by the end of the year with most inmates set to be moved to the new $420m Cherry Creek Youth Justice Centre in the state’s west.