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Malmsbury detainees escape from justice centre after allegedly stealing car, police say Malmsbury detainees escape from justice centre after allegedly stealing car, police say
(about 2 hours later)
A number of inmates have fled a youth detention facility in Victoria after allegedly stealing a vehicle on Wednesday afternoon.A number of inmates have fled a youth detention facility in Victoria after allegedly stealing a vehicle on Wednesday afternoon.
Police said the escape took place about 2.45pm at the Malmsbury youth justice centre, 100km north of Melbourne. Victoria police are at the scene, while other officers pursued the youths in the car.Police said the escape took place about 2.45pm at the Malmsbury youth justice centre, 100km north of Melbourne. Victoria police are at the scene, while other officers pursued the youths in the car.
Police said they were initially called to a disturbance involving about 30 inmates and that 13 inmates initially escaped the facility, six of whom have since been arrested and are in police custody. There are seven inmates still on the run, police said. Officers said they were initially called to a disturbance involving about 30 inmates and that 13 inmates had initially escaped the facility. Nine were still on the run, police said.
“Police believe they are travelling in two separate vehicles, a red hatch and green Holden sedan,” police media said in a statement. “The direction of travel of both vehicles is unknown at this stage. Members of the community are asked to call triple zero if they see either of these vehicles and avoid them.” “Police believe they are travelling in two separate vehicles, a red hatch and green Holden sedan,” police media said. “The direction of travel of both vehicles is unknown at this stage. Members of the community are asked to call triple zero if they see either of these vehicles and avoid them.”
Dog squad officers, along with members of the fugitive taskforce and the critical incident response team were headed towards the scene to support local police, the statement said. Dog squad officers, along with members of the fugitive taskforce and the critical incident response, are invovled in the search.
A Community and Public Sector Union spokesman, Julian Kennelly, said the Malmsbury facility was now in lockdown. He said one staff member had been injured after youths in one of the secure units stole their access pass.A Community and Public Sector Union spokesman, Julian Kennelly, said the Malmsbury facility was now in lockdown. He said one staff member had been injured after youths in one of the secure units stole their access pass.
“The theft of the pass facilitated their escape from the facility,” Kennelly said. “I’m unsure of the injuries to the staff member but have been told they are OK.”“The theft of the pass facilitated their escape from the facility,” Kennelly said. “I’m unsure of the injuries to the staff member but have been told they are OK.”
Kennelly said staff had intelligence since a massive riot that took place at the Parkville detention centre in November that Malmsbury youth were planning something “big to show the Parkville kids that they are tougher”.Kennelly said staff had intelligence since a massive riot that took place at the Parkville detention centre in November that Malmsbury youth were planning something “big to show the Parkville kids that they are tougher”.
“There is a group of youth who continue to push the envelope and want to constantly disrupt things,” he said.“There is a group of youth who continue to push the envelope and want to constantly disrupt things,” he said.
Parliamentary staff investigating youth justice facilities had attended the Malmsbury detention centre on Tuesday, which Kennelly said may have triggered Wednesday’s events.Parliamentary staff investigating youth justice facilities had attended the Malmsbury detention centre on Tuesday, which Kennelly said may have triggered Wednesday’s events.
The escape is the latest in a string of incidents that have occurred at youth detention centres across the state over several months.The escape is the latest in a string of incidents that have occurred at youth detention centres across the state over several months.
Superintendent Craig Gillard told reporters on Wednesday afternoon that three cars had been stolen since the incident.
“One vehicle came from a carjacking on the highway, another in a petrol drive-off, and we have a whole range of police officers outside of here still looking for these youths,” he said.
Two weeks ago Victoria’s youth affairs minister, Jenny Mikakos, denied she had lost control of the youth justice system after six detainees at the Malmsbury facility began rioting.Two weeks ago Victoria’s youth affairs minister, Jenny Mikakos, denied she had lost control of the youth justice system after six detainees at the Malmsbury facility began rioting.
She blamed an increasingly violent cohort of young offenders on the ongoing riots. Damage to the Melbourne’s Parkville facility is so extensive that a number of youth are being held at the Barwon adult prison in a unit reclassified as a youth facility.She blamed an increasingly violent cohort of young offenders on the ongoing riots. Damage to the Melbourne’s Parkville facility is so extensive that a number of youth are being held at the Barwon adult prison in a unit reclassified as a youth facility.
As a result of the ongoing unrest the Victorian government is undertaking a review of youth facilities and has expedited the development of a business case to build a new youth detention facility. As a result of the ongoing unrest the Victorian government is undertaking a review of youth facilities and has expedited the development of a business case to build a new youth detention facility. The youth justice framework is also being reviewed, having not been updated for 16 years.
The youth justice framework is also being reviewed, having not been updated for 16 years.
On Wednesday afternoon the opposition leader, Matthew Guy, again called on Mikakos to resign but added that “the buck stops” with the premier, Daniel Andrews.On Wednesday afternoon the opposition leader, Matthew Guy, again called on Mikakos to resign but added that “the buck stops” with the premier, Daniel Andrews.
“He’s meant to be running our state,” Guy said. “Every day we’re seeing riots, we’re seeing crimewaves. This is a government who is standing by and allowing Melbourne to become the Johannesburg of the south Pacific.”Mikakos, who is currently on holidays, “should not bother coming back,” Guy said. “He’s meant to be running our state,” Guy said. “Every day we’re seeing riots, we’re seeing crimewaves. This is a government who is standing by and allowing Melbourne to become the Johannesburg of the South Pacific.”Mikakos, who was on holidays but who has returned from leave to deal with the incident, “should not bother coming back”, Guy said. He called for youth justice to be moved under the corrections portfolio.
He called for youth justice to be moved under the corrections portfolio.