Claims teens are running riot at state’s newest youth justice facility Cherry Creek

Staff at the state’s newly opened Cherry Creek youth justice centre are being terrorised by rampaging teen gangs, with the situation so grim the facility is being referred to as “Shiv Creek”.

There have been 37 serious incidents at Cherry Creek over the past few days.

Teens are running riot at the state’s newest youth justice facility as gang warfare sparks dozens of serious incidents with staff unable to control dangerous teens.

Senior corrections sources say staff at the newly opened Cherry Creek youth justice centre are being terrorised by rampaging gangs.

The Herald Sun understands there have been 37 serious incidents at the new site over the past few days.

The situation has become so dire, another source said Cherry Creek had come to be referred to as “Shiv Creek”.

The Herald Sun can reveal consideration is being given to moving some inmates to another facility.

The Cherry Creek Youth Justice Centre was completed in August 2022 but remained empty for almost a year.

Prison sources told the Herald Sun discussions had included reopening the now defunct Malmsbury youth justice facility, which was closed last year, in an effort to separate the wild teens.

A spokesperson for the state government refused to answer questions about the issue but categorically ruled out the idea of Malmsbury being used again.

Prison sources said rampant violence would escalate without urgent intervention.

It comes days after new data revealed reoffending rates of Victorian teen criminals had soared to almost the highest in the country.

The Productivity Commission figures showed 70.5 per cent of youths aged 10 to 16 were now returning to detention or supervision within 12 months of being released.

The figure has soared from 56.3 per cent and is now the second highest in the country, after the Northern Territory at 79.7 per cent.

It’s claimed Cherry Creek is now being referred to as “Shiv Creek” because of the violence occurring.

At the same time, taxpayers are being slugged $233m a year on youth detention — or $5900-a-youth per day — more than double that of NSW.

Gang conflict has emerged in recent years as one of the biggest issues within the youth justice system.

There have been high-level incidents including assaults linked to vicious disputes between the gangs.

In one of those, Malmsbury staff were bashed and keys stolen so one group could get out of their unit and into one where their target was living.

That teenager was bashed and subjected to a sadistic sexual assault.

Sources say hatred and violence crosses into the outside world.

They say there have been tit-for-tat attacks in and beyond the jail walls which are interconnected.

One was a nasty home invasion in suburban Melbourne in which family members of a detained youth gang offender were menaced.

The 130-bed Cherry Creek Youth Justice Centre was completed in August 2022, but remained empty for almost a year.

The state government says it has ruled out Malmsbury being used again.

Insiders say the centre, which ran more than $100m over budget, has been plagued by an inability to find corrections officers willing to work there.

Shadow minister for Corrections and Youth Justice, Brad Battin, accused the government of losing control of the system.

“The Victorian Youth Justice System is a reflection of the Allan Labor Government – chaotic,” he said.

“Cherry Creek youth detention is out of control and this is putting all staff there at risk.

“At a time youth crime is reaching decade highs, we have to have faith in the justice system, but the reality is no one does.”

It comes a day after hundreds of mourners gathered to farewell slain doctor Ashley Gordon who was allegedly murdered by two 16-year-old boys in a botched home invasion in Melbourne’s northeast.

The Herald Sun previously revealed that one of the two accused teens was on bail at the time of the alleged attack.

Premier Jacinta Allan faces pressure to dump an overhaul of the youth justice system, including plans to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 14.

Under current plans, the government has committed to raising the age a child can be arrested, charged or jailed from 10 to 12 by the end of this year.

The age will be raised again to 14 by 2027 with the exception of some crimes, including homicides.

The state government was contacted for comment.

Originally published as Claims teens are running riot at state’s newest youth justice facility Cherry Creek