21 people charged after NSW juvenile prison riot

Police have charged 21 inmates after a riot at a juvenile justice centre on the NSW Central Coast, sparking calls for an urgent independent review.

Riot police lead a detainee away in handcuffs during a riot at the Frank Baxter Juvenile Justice Centre.

Riot police lead a detainee away in handcuffs during a riot at the Frank Baxter Juvenile Justice Centre. Source: AAP

Five men and 16 teenagers will front court today after a riot at a juvenile justice centre on the NSW Central Coast which lasted for more than 20 hours.

The riot - in which inmates allegedly used makeshift weapons to "target sex offenders" - broke out at Frank Baxter Juvenile Justice Centre at Kariong about 8.30pm on Sunday.

Seven were injured and six were taken to hospital, including an 18-year-old who was in a critical condition with stab wounds and facial injuries.

Riot police are seen during a riot at the Frank Baxter Juvenile Justice Centre.
Riot police are seen during a riot at the Frank Baxter Juvenile Justice Centre. Source: AAP


Three men continue to receive treatment at Gosford Hospital including a man with stab wounds and a collapsed lung, another with head and face injuries and a third man with a broken ankle.

Nine detainees surrendered before riot squad officers moved on to the roof about 5.30pm yesterday - 21 hours after the riot started - and the remaining 11 detainees surrendered peacefully, NSW Police said.

One of the adults faced Gosford Local Court on Monday and the remaining four are due to appear at the same court today.

The 16 teens are also expected to appear in Woy Woy Children's Court later today.

Urgent review into NSW prison riot

NSW Families, Communities and Disability Services Minister Gareth Ward said the incident was unacceptable and asked for an urgent independent review.

It will be conducted by former assistant police commissioner Lee Shearer and is in addition to plans already in place to establish a unit at the complex to manage high-risk offenders, he added.



"This inquiry will get to the bottom of what happened at Frank Baxter," Mr Ward said in a statement on Monday.

"While the incident will be subject to a police investigation, actions that put the safety and security of staff and detainees at risk will not be tolerated."

Riot police lead a detainee away in handcuffs during a riot at the Frank Baxter Juvenile Justice Centre.
Riot police lead a detainee away in handcuffs during a riot at the Frank Baxter Juvenile Justice Centre. Source: AAP


The union which represents prison guards said the offenders allegedly stole keys from an officer to obtain garden tools including a hedge trimmer and shovels from a maintenance shed.

Public Service Association general secretary Stewart Little described the riot as "nothing short of horrific".

He backed calls for a judicial inquiry into the juvenile system, noting it's not the first riot at the centre.


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Published 22 July 2019 6:40pm
Updated 23 July 2019 11:28am


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