Prisoners out of their cells as police establish perimeter at juvenile detention centre
Police have confirmed an "ongoing situation" at a juvenile detention centre in the Central Coast, where an unknown number of inmates have escaped from their cells, leaving both prisoners and staff injured.
Emergency services were called to the Frank Baxter Juvenile Justice Centre about 8.40pm on Sunday night, with police moving to establish a perimeter around the entire jail.
A corrective services source told the Herald that at least 20 detainees are involved and that staff at the centre have been attacked.
Detainees have obtained keys and gained access to a workshed which contains chainsaws and other tools.
The source said detainees have also attacked fellow inmates, and among those targeted were the prisoners held in the sex offenders facility.
Police had to deploy gas in a bid to restore order. The source said staff were fearful for their safety and unable to intervene until police arrived.
Due to low lighting, police have not yet confirmed exactly how many prisoners are out of their cells.
NSW Ambulance said as of 11pm, they had 15 crews on the scene on standby, as well as one Westpac rescue helicopter.
Opening in 1999, the facility in Kariong is the largest juvenile detention centre in the state, capable of housing up to 120 inmates between the ages of 16 and 21.
The jail has been plagued with recent incidents, including one a month ago, where staff walked off the job following the assault of a prison officer which left him with a concussion, broken nose and broken eye socket.
From 2017 to 2018, physical assaults on staff at Baxter – which range from spitting to violent attacks – jumped from eight to 25, while self-harm incidents doubled, rising from 52 to 100.
Incidents requiring medical help or hospitalisation rose from 30 to 49.