Three detainees scale Banksia Hill Detention Centre roof

Authorities respond as three detainees scale Banksia Hill Detention Centre roof Topic:PrisonsPosted Fri 6 Nov 2026 at 10:23pmFri 6 Nov 2026 at 10:23pmThe detainees scaled the roof on Friday evening. (ABC News)Three detainees at Perth's Banksia Hill Detention Centre have scaled the facility's roof, almost a year after the last major incident at the centre.Aerial footage from Friday evening showed damage to the centre, including two windows, part of the roof and an air conditioning unit.One of the detainees threw what appeared to be a brick to the ground at one stage.Officers in riot gear are seen responding. (ABC News)At other points, the detainees were sitting on the roof talking to each other.Staff, including some with riot shields, watched on as others spoke to the detainees.Aerial footage shows some damage to the centre. (ABC News)"The department can confirm there are three young people on the roof at Banksia Hill with staff monitoring the situation," a Department of Justice spokesperson said just after 6pm."There is no risk to the wider public."Banksia Hill is the state's main youth detention facility, usually holding boys and girls aged between 10 and 17 years old.At least six young people scaled the roof of the facility in late November last year, with three remaining there overnight.It appears extra fencing has been added to some parts of the roof of the facility since that incident.There have been a number of riots at the site in recent years, including one in 2023, which then-premier described as a "form of terrorism" and which was ended when armed guards pointed weapons at the heads of teenagers.It came amid years of dysfunction in the state's youth justice system, which has since largely been resolved.Work is continuing on a new $156 million youth detention facility located alongside Banksia Hill to provide support for the most high-risk detainees, which is expected to open in 2028.The government has been working on a $67 million project for "upgrades and urgent works" at the facility, which is due to be completed this year.