KEY POINTS:
The hunt for three prisoners who escaped from a police van in Hamilton will focus on the trio's known associates today.
The three men, Thomas Te Rangi, Darren William Snowden and Richard Thomas Joseph, fled from the van yesterday morning after it stopped at traffic lights in suburban Melville.
The three, all remand prisoners, were on their way to Waikeria Prison.
Police searched Melville with tracker dogs until 10.30pm yesterday but today's search would shift focus, Hamilton CIB Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Nicholls said.
Two of the men had known contacts in the Bay of Plenty and Taupo areas, he said.
"Taking this into account the focus of our inquiries will be on the men's known associates and they can expect a fair degree of pressure to be applied while these men remain at large.
"Anyone assisting these men should be aware there are repercussions and there are serious consequences they need to consider," Mr Nicholls said.
Police received a number of reports of suspicious activity within the search area overnight and anyone with information about the prisoners should contact police immediately, he said.
- NZPA
