A sixth youth has been taken into custody a short time ago following an escape incident at Ashley Youth Detention Centre overnight.

Police responded to the centre just before 7pm last night, after reports of a disturbance within the facility.

Three staff members were physically assaulted by some of the young people during the disturbance with one receiving non life threatening injuries.

Seven young people escaped the facility in a vehicle.

Police were called and quickly deployed significant resources to the area, including the Westpac Rescue Helicopter.

Just after 10pm, the stolen vehicle was located in the Penguin area, with the young people believed to have fled on foot.

One of the young people was safely taken into custody just before 1am.

A second vehicle was then commandeered by two of the young people near Ulverstone just before 7.30am this morning. The pair were arrested a short time later without incident and safely returned to Ashley Youth Detention Centre.
A fourth young person was safely taken into custody on the north west just after midday and a fifth young person presented at Glenorchy Police Station shortly before 1.30pm.
The sixth youth was arrested in Hobart just before 4pm.
Police are continuing to actively search for the remaining youth.

Members of the public are advised not to approach the young person, and to contact police on 131 444 or triple zero in an emergency.