Victoria

Malmsbury riot: Woman attends job interview at youth justice centre as turmoil erupts

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A woman had just completed a job interview at the Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre when more than a dozen youths rampaged through the car park, smashing several staff vehicles before stealing a ute and escaping.

It is understood the woman had been interviewed just minutes before a "code white" was called at the detention centre at 2.45pm on Wednesday, which indicated a riot had begun.

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Minutes later, the warning was upgraded to a "code aqua", which forced the facility into lockdown as about 25 youths flooded out of the secure Monash unit. 

It is unknown if the woman was successful with her job application, but she left the centre unharmed without being caught up in the turmoil.

Malmsbury has been plagued by riots over the past year and was the subject of a scathing WorkSafe review that staff were at risk of being killed by violent inmates.

"Employees' health and safety is at risk of serious or fatal injuries due to the amount of attacks and assaults on staff members occurring at this location," the WorkSafe report warned. 

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It had also been claimed that female staff were routinely threatened with rape.

WorkSafe is understood to have served an improvement notice on the Department of Health and Human Services, insisting it must introduce safe systems of work, including appropriate staff levels.

It is unknown if the department had adopted any of the WorkSafe recommendations before Wednesday's mass breakout, which exposed extraordinary security flaws.

Youths are understood have assaulted a guard to obtain keys and security passes before entering a maintenance area  and armed themselves with steel bars, scissors and tools.

Five prisoners scaled the roof of the Campaspe unit but were soon talked down by police in riot gear.  

Some inmates ripped the legs off chairs, which are believed to have been used to jemmy open prison entry doors.

As 15 youths made their ill-fated bid for freedom, 50 staff and almost 90 inmates were forced into lockdown.

Many of the youths not involved in the riot are understood to have been deeply traumatised. 

At least one inmate suffered a panic attack and was treated by ambulance officers. 

A source at the centre, who has worked at several correctional facilities, said it was the worst riot they could recall.

"It was a shocker. We were obviously caught off-guard and it happened so quick. This was quite well planned. I got a sense that something was up just before it kicked off," said a source from Malmsbury.

Friends and family members of guards and counsellors have taken to social media and vented their concerns about management of the problem-plagued detention centre.

"No one should be in fear for their loved ones lives when they go to work every day. I am shaking with rage and sadness," said the wife of one guard.

  

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