A remand prisoner from Mt Eden Prison has been on the run for four days after escaping during a hospital escort.
Mt Eden Corrections Facility acting general manager Edith Pattinson said the man was able to slip away just before 9am on Friday, prompting a police search that remained ongoing.
“Police were informed immediately and are actively searching for them. We encourage anyone with information about the prisoner’s location to contact police on 111.”
The escapee was a 42-year-old man, according to police.
A review was being carried out into the incident, Pattinson said.
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“Public safety is our top priority. Any escape is unacceptable and an immediate review into how this incident occurred is being carried out.”
RNZ reported the prisoner had been handcuffed during the escort.
Corrections noted that it carried out tens of thousands of prisoner escorts annually between prisons, courts, specialist medical facilities and rehabilitation providers.
