Locks changed at Victoria youth justice centre after prison break
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Version 0 of 1. The locks at a Victorian youth justice centre have been changed following a prison break and riot last week. The Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed none of the keys allegedly stolen by youths on 25 January would now functional, but did not reveal how many locks had to be changed, or the cost to taxpayers. However, a worker at the centre who wishes to remain anonymous, said the process would have cost up to $500,000 to change all the locks throughout the two prisons on the Malmsbury site. Officials have said a guard was bashed and his swipe card and keys stolen at the Malmsbury youth detention centre last Wednesday. Fifteen youths allegedly stole a ute and escaped. Six were caught before nightfall and nine the next day. The worker said the youths escaped via a broken roller door that was due to be fixed after running at staff armed with weapons. The workers retreated into a building and locked themselves inside. A Department of Health and Human Services spokesman denied claims the inmates escaped through a broken door. A new high-security youth jail will be built in Werribee South, the Age has reported. It was expected the Victorian government would make a formal announcement on the location and facilities of the new $250m facility within the next few weeks. The government has been plagued by continual rioting, escapes and violent episodes at its current sites at Malmsbury and Parkville. |