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UPDATE, FRIDAY, 9.45am: Four of the inmates who were rioting are set to face court in Bendigo this morning.
The Department of Health and Human Services say police will charge them and could be sent into adult prison.
UPDATE, THURSDAY, 7pm: Six youths have been arrested in relation to the riot at Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre.
A Victoria Police spokesperson expected the youths would be interviewed in relation to criminal damage.
A Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson said the incident was safely resolved without any injuries to staff or young people.
“The incident was contained to a single unit and involved six offenders,” the spokesperson said.
“Victoria Police are investigating.”
UPDATE, 6.35pm: The riot at Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre has reached its end.
Sources told Fairfax Media the whole centre had been put in lockdown to prevent any trouble spreading.
The centre has capacity for 135 juvenile inmates and is close to full at present.
Ambulance Victoria was on standby throughout the riot.
UPDATE, 5.53pm: Yelling and barking police dogs could be heard from within the Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre after riot police entered en masse.
The sounds of a commotion could still be heard from the outside of the building for minutes afterwards.
Bendigo Advertiser photographer Darren Howe said the occasional clunk of metal poles, allegedly wielded by the youths, could be heard.
UPDATE, 4.29pm: The perimeter of the Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre remains secure, a Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson said.
They said centre staff were working to resolve an incident involving six offenders.
UPDATE, 4.18pm: Shadow Minister for Families and Children Georgie Crozier has deemed Victoria’s youth justice centres “completely out of control”.
Her comments came as police were attending Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre, for what she believed to be “at least the 30th major youth riot” under the state government led by Premier Daniel Andrews.
Ms Crozier also took aim at Minister for Families and Children and Youth Affairs, Jenny Mikakos.
“It is clear to all that Minister Jenny Mikakos is hopelessly out of her depth and just lurching from one crisis to another,” she said.
Ms Mikakos has been contacted for comment.
EARLIER: Police are at Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre following reports youths had locked themselves in a secure yard and were “causing trouble.”
The situation is ongoing.
Police were called about 1.50pm on Thursday, a Victoria Police spokesperson said.
Sources told Fairfax Media some teens had armed themselves and staff had retreated from the unit.
More to come