Ashley detainees wield hammers in standoff, damage facility

It comes after a three-hour standoff between staff and detainees in December, when three youths climbed onto the roof and caused about $20,000 worth of damage.

About 3.30pm on Friday, approximately 10 police surrounded the Deloraine detention centre, including negotiators, where six detainees - between the ages of 15-17 - had gained access to the roof of the Bronte accommodation unit.

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Shortly after police got there, two of the youths removed themselves from the roof, while four remained there.

Acting Inspector Jason Jones said the detainees had gained access to a room from which they'd gathered a number of tools.

"They'd armed themselves with some [hammers and screwdrivers] and [were] also throwing things from the roof," he said. "They were ... throwing things like ... light-globes down onto the ground where police were."

The incident was peacefully resolved just before 11pm.

No-one was injured but Acting Inspector Jones said a "considerable" amount of damage was done to the property, with the youths having kicked in doors and damaged the roof and ceiling of the building.

There's no indication so far as to why the incident occurred.

"During negotiations, there [were] no demands made," Acting Inspector Jones said.

"I think [the detainees] just took the opportunity to just cause some issues for everyone at the centre."

Whether or not charges are laid is a decision for the detention centre's management.

Health and Community Services Union assistant secretary Robbie Moore said a workplace health and safety representative at the facility had issued a safety notice to the employer in the wake of the incident.

"There's still no certainty whether [staff have] retrieved all the things out of the shed that got stolen and whether, in fact, [the detainees] stashed something away somewhere to use later on," he said.

"[That's] the fear."

"Staff have been raising staffing levels consistently and other safety issues [such as] the fact that the infrastructure is so old.

"And this is just another example of a really dangerous situation for both young people and for staff."

The state government will invest $7.3 million into a redevelopment of the detention centre, which Premier Peter Gutwein said would commence this year and ensure required upgrades were "taken care of".

Mr Gutwein said the most recent incident at Ashley would be reviewed.

"We'll look closely at what's occurred," he said.

"In terms of what occurred [on Friday], the matter was dealt with relatively quickly."

On Saturday, state Greens leader Cassy O'Connor offered an "elegant solution" to the problems facing the corrections portfolio.

"Close Ashley to kids, build two new therapeutic facilities for young people [in the] North and South and repurpose the Ashley Youth Detention Centre as a Northern prison," she said.

"It would save the government, we believe, a packet."

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