Hamilton Escort van escapers release 2

Hamilton Police are widening their search and asking the public for their help as they seek to find three men who escaped from the back of a prisoner escort van this morning.

Acting Detective Sergeant Dave Hopkins of the Hamilton CIB said the three men were all city locals and Police were confident of a timely arrest.

"But to do that we need the public's help in establishing where they have gone," he said.

"These men are Hamilton locals and we expect them to be predominantly reliant on contacts in the city, those same contacts will be the ones who are the focus of our enquiries in the near future," he said.

Mr Hopkins said while the trio were from Hamilton Police couldn't rule out they may try and flee the city, two of the three are known to have contacts in the Bay of Plenty and Taupo regions.

"So we're asking people to keep an eye out for any suspicious behaviour, and keep your vehicles secure if you notice anything suspicious phone Police."

Warrants to arrest the pair were issued this afternoon after the trio escaped from the Police vehicle at the intersection of Ohaupo Rd and Urlich Ave about 10.30am.

A large team of Police, including a back up dog and handler from Rotorua, scoured nearby residential streets and gullies searching for the men throughout the day.

The three are; Thomas TE RANGI, 19, aka Steely TERANGI, a male Maori of medium build, 170cm tall last seen wearing a grey sweatshirt.

Darren William SNOWDEN, 22, a male Maori of medium build 168cm tall with long braided hair wearing dark pants and a dark grey T-shirt with an orange/red WS on it.

Richard Thomas JOSEPH, aka Richard MIDWOOD, 30, a male Maori 168cm tall of thin-medium build last seen wearing shorts and a white singlet.

Just how the men escaped is the subject of an ongoing operational inquiry.

Hamilton City Area Commander, Inspector Rob Lindsay, said the method of escape had been identified and steps taken to prevent anything similar occurring.

"We believe we've mitigated the risk and taken steps to ensure it won't be repeated, to comment further would be inappropriate in terms of allowing the investigation to run its course and in relation to ongoing security," he said.

The escort vehicle was carrying nine prisoners at the time of the escape, six in the rear partition from which the trio absconded.

Three other inmates in the compartment with them at the time remained in the vehicle.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the trio are asked to contact either Mr Hopkins or Detective Mark Watt at the Hamilton Central Police Station on 07 858 6200.