A small group of serious youth offenders is driving a surge in the number of Victorian children behind bars, according to the latest figures from the Children’s Court.

But the overall number of young criminals on the state’s streets has fallen dramatically in recent years with just 2800 children found guilty of criminal offences in the 2016-2017 financial year, down from more than 6000 in 2009-2010.

More than 240 young people were sent to a youth residential centre or youth detention centre in the 12 months to June 2017, a figure that had surged by more than 50 per cent in three years.

A prison van carrying youths shouting from inside leaves the Melbourne Youth Justice Centre in Parkville. Credit:Pat Scala

In 2009-2010 about 4 per cent of young offenders found guilty were locked up, but by 2017 that proportion had doubled to more than 8 per cent.