Detainees at Riverina juvenile justice centre in stand-off with guards

Two high-risk juvenile detainees have ended a four-hour standoff with guards at a NSW justice centre after using a fire extinguisher to smash open a fire exit and scale onto the roof.

Two high-risk juvenile detainees have ended a four-hour standoff with guards at a NSW justice centre after using a fire extinguisher to smash open a fire exit and scale onto the roof.

The detainees threw rocks at passing cars and attempted to damage the roof with a metal pole after climbing onto the roof about 9.30am.

One is believed to have hurt his leg in the stand-off.

The two boys have been throwing rocks at passing cars. Picture: Supplied

The Riverina Juvenile Justice Centre at Wagga Wagga.

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A Juvenile Justice spokeswoman said the boys were talked down off the roof without causing any injuries to guards and other inmates.

“Juvenile Justice is currently undertaking a review to determine what (disciplinary) action is appropriate,” the spokeswoman said.

The spokeswoman did not answer questions about the boys’ ages, how they got on the roof and what demands they had.

It comes as tensions surrounding juvenile detainees hit boiling point between the government and the union that represents the guards, the Public Service Association

This is the second time this year detainees have climbed onto the roof at NSW juvenile justice centres.

The pair have been using a metal pole in an attempt to damage the roof. Picture: Supplied

Six detainees had a 10-hour standoff with guards after climbing onto the roof at the Cobham Juvenile Justice Centre in January.

PSA General Secretary Stewart Little said there was an urgent need for therapeutic centres in our juvenile justice centres to manage high-risk detainees.

“A lack of proper investment by the NSW government in rehabilitation for juvenile offenders means that you have the worst-of-the-worst leading young offenders astray,” he said.

“Our members are constantly at risk of violence, because there is no appropriate management of detainees based on their risk level.”

Last month Corrective Minister David Elliott announced the government would investigate specialists units with up to 10 beds for high-risk offenders.

He said more frontline staff would be rostered on and there would be an immediate review of its sanctions to see if harsher penalties should be applied “when a detainee misbehaves”.

Originally published as Detainees at Riverina juvenile justice centre in stand-off with guards