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Young escapees from the Malmsbury youth detention centre rampaged across Victoria over 24 hours as an alleged violent and terrifying crime spree deepened the crisis engulfing the youth justice system.
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Minister for Youth Affairs Jenny Mikakos has said, Victoria would get a "fit-for-purpose high security" youth justice system with more beds.
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Jenny Mikakos discusses Malmsbury breakout
Minister for Youth Affairs Jenny Mikakos has said, Victoria would get a "fit-for-purpose high security" youth justice system with more beds.
The Andrews government has promised a major shake-up of the juvenile justice system, which has exploded into one of its greatest challenges to date.
The Age understands guards from adult prisons will be transferred to the Malmsbury and Parkville youth facilities in coming days in an effort to secure the centres and quell further unrest.
On Thursday afternoon a ministerial taskforce was locked in a crisis meeting as police apprehended the final two escapees.
The ministerial taskforce meeting included Premier Daniel Andrews, Deputy Premier James Merlino, Police Minister Lisa Neville, Corrections Minister Gayle Tierney, Attorney-General Martin Pakula and Ms Mikakos.
A detention centre riot and the escape of 15 inmates on Wednesday spiralled into a frenzy of crimes across Victoria, including armed robberies and aggravated burglaries.
The crime spree prompted the Children's Court to grant unprecedented permission for police to publish the names and photographs of two inmates in a bid to track them down.
The two last escapees were apprehended shortly after 2.45pm on Thursday in Colac just after another escapee was arrested in Redan near Ballarat.
Police caught four teenagers in Ashburton on Thursday morning seizing weapons allegedly used in a home invasion in Mitcham where a silver Mercedes was also stolen.
On Wednesday afternoon six inmates were arrested at Lockwood followed by two more in a paddock near the Malmsbury facility later that evening.
The list of frightening crimes allegedly linked to the inmates included an attempted armed robbery in Berwick, an assault with a baseball bat at Bonbeach, two armed robberies at Noble Park and an aggravated burglary at Mitcham among other offences.
One staff member at the Malmsbury centre was injured on Wednesday after being attacked and robbed of their car keys by inmates. Two staff cars were stolen from the centre as the youths allegedly continued on their crime spree.
Some detainees remained at the centre, climbing onto a roof and lighting fires.
Three inmates aged over 18 who were involved in the rioting at Malmsbury have been transferred to Barwon Prison's Grevillea Unit but others may follow.
On Thursday Youth Affairs Minister Jenny Mikakos said "nothing was off the table" as part of a major shake-up of the justice system.
She said the system "obviously" needed to change and promised Victoria would get a "fit for purpose high security" youth justice facility with more beds. Further announcements are expected soon.
However, on Thursday Fairfax Media also revealed that Victoria's adult prison anti-riot squad may be sent into youth justice facilities in response to recent unrest that has plagued the system.
Opposition Leader Matthew Guy described the government's handling of the situation as a "farce".
He said the government refused to admit there was a "catastrophic problem" with management of youth justice centres.
Mr Guy renewed calls to transfer youth centres to the justice portfolio rather than the Department of Health and Human Services.
Detective Commissioner Andrew Crisp said it had been a "significant team effort" over 24 hours from a range of police units.
He said some pursuits were terminated because they reached excessive speeds.
There have been several major outbreaks of unrest at the Parkville and Malmsbury youth justice centres since Labor came to government.
When asked about police being called to the two youth justice centres in recent months Mr Crisp said: "Every time that occurs it is a drain on our resources."
Crimes allegedly linked to the 15 escapes included:
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An attempted armed robbery in Berwick at 9.20pm on Wednesday, when offenders confronted a person and attempted to steal a car;
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An assault in Bonbeach, where a man was assaulted by four men with a baseball bat and threatened with a knife at 10.45pm;
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Two armed robberies in Noble Park at 11.15pm, where two victims were threatened with a knife and a baseball bat and had their phones stolen;
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Hit and run at Mulgrave at 11.40pm involving a white Suzuki SUV stolen by four escapees that was later dumped at a BP service station on the corner of Springvale and Wellington roads;
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Armed robbery at 12.30am outside Sexyland in Hallam, where a knife was used to threaten a staff member.
With Emily Woods