An inmate classed as dangerous has become the first person to escape from the new Mt Eden Prison in Auckland.
Police say Aaron Forden, 30, scaled a fence and fled about 2am on Monday and believe there may have been a car waiting for him.
[image:3315:third:right]Multinational company Serco has been running the prison since it opened in March and alerted police immediately following Forden's latest escape.
In May this year, he escaped from Whangarei District Court while appearing on violence and dishonesty charges.
He previously escaped from the old Mt Eden Prison in 2008 using a rope of knotted sheets.
Detective Sergeant Iain Chapman says Forden has contacts throughout the North Island, especially in Northland.
Under its $300 million contract with the Government the company has to pay a penalty of $150,000 whenever an inmate escapes.
The Department of Corrections says it has commissioned a joint review with Serco that will identify what happened and make recommendations on any steps that need to be taken to ensure security.
Forden is described as European, 175cm tall, with a reddish tinge to his hair. When last seen he was wearing prison crew sweatpants and a sweatshirt.
