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Parkville Riot: 'Serious Shortcomings' At Troubled Youth Justice Centre

Authorites have quashed a six-hour riot at the facility.
Melbourne police have quelled a riot at Parkville youth detention centre.
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Melbourne police have quelled a riot at Parkville youth detention centre.

Victorian authorities say Parkville youth justice centre has "serious shortcomings" in the wake of a six-hour riot at the facility overnight.

Seven young people have reportedly been transferred out of the Parkville centre in Melbourne after the riot that started just before 8pm Saturday.

According to the ABC, the police riot and dog squads were called in to quell the riot after up to 20 detainees at Parkville tried to access another unit.

Victoria Police said the incident was resolved in the early hours on Sunday morning, with all prisoners accounted for and no one injured.

Families and Children Minister Jenny Mikakos on Sunday described the inmates' behaviour as "completely unacceptable".

"As we know we have a very small group of young offenders who have been engaged in very violent offending in the community and this is why they have been incarcerated," Mikakos said.

She said the rioters broke away from staff in the early evening after a sporting activity then gained access to the roof cavity of another unit.

The inmates were also able to free another detainee from his cell, Mikakos said.

"It's completely unacceptable in my view to have the situation where offenders are able to escape locked cells while they are incarcerated," she added.

"We are working around the clock to fortify not just the four buildings that were damaged during the course of the November riot, but in fact we are going to be fortifying each and every one of the buildings at the Parkville facility.

"We have some serious shortcomings, the Parkville facility is clearly not fit for purpose, the infrastructure limitations have become very apparent."

In November, inmates at the facility destroyed security cameras and trashed ceilings and walls, causing about $2 million in damage.

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