Ms Buchanan’s report found a 107 per cent increase in serious “category one” youth justice incidents over the past year. These includes increases in sexual assault reports - the number of youths allegedly indecently assaulted by staff went from none to nine - and physical assaults between young people, which rose from 10 to 24. There were 31 accusations of assaults on staff by young people, a big leap from seven the year before. There were also 15 instances of youths self-harming, compared to one the year before. The Department of Justice attributed the rise to an increase in reporting and the high numbers of young people on remand.

"[This] has led to a more unsettled mix of young people within our system," a spokesman said. The commission acknowledged there was an increase in reporting, but "concerns remain about the frequency of serious incidents during this 12-month period". The commission also made public, for the first time, allegations that specialist guards switched off their cameras moments before youth inmates say they were assaulted. An image from CCTV footage of the early stages of the riot inside the Grevillea unit of Barwon prison. The incident, in February last year, unfolded inside the Grevillea Unit in Barwon Prison, a maximum security adult jail. Several young people were transferred there following riots in the Parkville juvenile detention centre. A court would declare the transfer, which was a government decision, unlawful about three months after the February incident where a riot broke out in Grevillea.

The teenage boys threw chairs at the guards and overturned a table before guards deployed capsicum spray, forcing the evacuation of the unit. Three hours later, the boys were handcuffed and returned to their cells. Eleven youths, according to the commission’s report, said Security and Emergency Services Group staff assaulted them as they removed their handcuffs. This could have been captured on the cameras worn by SESG staff, but Ms Buchanan’s report found the cameras were deactivated just before they entered the cells. “Based on the available facts, the inquiry could not conclusively determine whether the alleged assaults occurred,” Ms Buchanan said. Victorian Children's Commissioner Liana Buchanan. Credit:Justin McManus “Unfortunately, this outcome was influenced by the fact that Corrections Victoria staff responsible for removing the children’s handcuffs declined to be interviewed and body-worn cameras were not operative during the time of the alleged assaults.”

On Saturday, Ms Buchanan said Victoria had a long way to go in youth detention. “What we see through our oversight in youth justice reminds us just how much work is needed before we can say Victoria has a safe, humane system that in any way serves to rehabilitate children and young people who offend," she told The Age. One Corrections staff member suffered facial injuries. Human Rights Law Centre director Hugh de Kretser said the teenagers independently reported being assaulted while handcuffed and pinned down in their cells. “This shows yet again why governments should never lock children up in an adult prison, let alone the state’s most notorious maximum security jail,” Mr de Kretser said.

“We now have public confirmation that Barwon guards switched off their body worn cameras...the Minister must ensure full transparency and accountability for this incident including disciplinary action.” Loading A department spokesman said Victoria Police "fully investigated" the allegations and no charges were laid. More staff have been recruited to work in juvenile detention, security has been upgraded and new training to prevent and de-escalation incidents has been rolled-out, the spokesman said. Use of force, which includes the use of capsicum spray, is recorded daily and reported to the department secretary. Allegations of assault must also be reported to the Commissioner for Children.