WA premier Mark McGowan slams Perth rioters as stand-off ends

A 12-hour stand off by rioters at a juvenile detention centre has come to end, sparking fresh calls for prison reform.

First Nations leaders have called for urgent reform to juvenile justice after almost fifty detainees set fire to a youth detention centre.

Detainees at the Banksia Hills Detention Centre in Perth set fires and threw objects at guards after breaching their cells on Tuesday night.

The inmates began moving around within the centre and onto the roof on Wednesday, before lighting fires and damaging infrastructure.

A Western Australia Department of Justice spokesperson confirmed the last of the detainees had been brought down by the afternoon.

They were transferred to a Unit 18, a standalone unit at Casuarina prison, and are expected to face criminal charges.

WA Premier Mark McGowan slammed the actions of rioters on Wednesday as a “form of terrorism”.

Inmates on the roof of Banksia Hill Juvenile Detention Centre amid an ongoing riot. Picture: Nine

“They show no respect, no respect to anyone,” Mr McGowan told reporters.

Mr McGowan also hit back at claims many of the children had disabilities or medical conditions that could affect their thinking.

“I don’t accept that people who commit multiple burglaries, who rape, who assault, or even kill people, shouldn’t be incarcerated,” he said.

The Telethon Kids Institute reported in 2018 that almost 90 per cent of children at Banksia Hill had at least one form of severe neurodevelopmental impairment, while 36 per cent were found to have Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.

Late last year a group of about 20 inmates were transferred to Unit 18 at Casuarina prison.

The riot comes as hundreds of First Nations women gathered in Canberra for the Wiyi Yani U Thangani National Summit.

Those leaders, including from the Northern Territory, called for a peaceful resolution to the stand off.

Commissioner for Children and Young People WA Jacqueline McGowan-Jones said the safety of the detainees was a priority.

“I urge the WA Government to immediately consider new models that include restorative justice approaches as an urgent priority, rather than the heavy handed approach we are seeing play out right now, and too many times before,” Ms McGowan-Jones said.

WA Legal Service youth manager Sasha Greenoff called for an end to the “continued inhumane treatment” at Banksia Hill.

Inmates shadow boxing on top of the Banksia Hill Juvenile Detention Centre. Picture: Nine

“Our children are continuing to suffer mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually,” Ms Greenoff said.

Aboriginal and Social Justice commissioner June Oscar AO said governments needed to urgently address the “crisis in youth justice” to prevent further harm to children in detention, and to reduce youth offending through effective systems of support.

“The vast majority of young people in the youth justice system, including those involved in this morning’s events, have experienced significant trauma in their lives, which impacts on their health and wellbeing,” Ms Oscar said.

“This means that every decision made about them and every response to their behaviour needs to be aimed toward care and rehabilitation.”

A large contingent of police, including the Regional Operations Group, Polair helicopters and K9 Units, was brought in on Wednesday morning to support the Corrective Services Special Operations Group.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services battled to extinguish fires lit by detainees in several accommodation blocks throughout the morning, with the wild blazes brought under control by about 10am AEST.

Their efforts were hampered by a number of detainees who were obstructing access, the spokesperson said.

An inmate throwing an unknown object from the roof of the Banksia Hill Juvenile Detention Centre. Picture: Nine

WA Police with riot shields outside of the Banksia Hill Juvenile Detention Centre. Picture: Nine

St John Ambulance paramedics had been onsite as a precaution, however there were no reported injuries to detainees or staff.

The spokesperson confirmed inmates had caused significant damage across the site, with a full assessment to be conducted.

The centre is the only detention centre in WA for offenders aged between 10 and 17 years, including males and females.

Among those detained at the centre are people waiting to be sentenced to a period of detention or who have been denied bail in court.

There is currently no threat to the broader community.

Originally published as WA premier Mark McGowan slams Perth rioters as stand-off ends