Four Vic riot teens remanded to adult jail

Four teenagers accused of rioting at a Victorian juvenile detention centre have been remanded to an adult jail, amid concerns their behaviour is out of control.

The Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre was in lockdown on Thursday after a group of teens used metal table legs to intimidate staff, and smash windows and equipment, causing an estimated damage bill of more than $65,000.

Staff were unable to restore order and a Victoria Police riot squad was forced to intervene.

Six teens have since been charged with criminal damage, including a 19-year-old and three 18-year-olds.

The alleged instigator of the riot, who is 19, faced Bendigo Magistrates Court on Friday as the Department of Health and Human Services applied to transfer the four teens to an adult prison.

Malmsbury operations manager Rick Madigan told the court the teens "are unable to be controlled in a youth justice centre".

Magistrate Sarah Leighfield sent the teens back to Malmsbury for the weekend pending further submissions, and on Monday remanded them into adult custody.

The four teens are next due to appear at Bendigo Magistrates Court on February 9.