Prisoners' bus breaks down

The Desert Road area at Waiouru

A bus carrying inmates to a Central North Island prison broke down on the Desert Road last night.

Corrections Department Acting National Commissioner Jeanette Burns confirmed police assisted Corrections staff to escort the transport bus ``carrying a number of prisoners to a nearby prison'' after it broke down.

``The prisoners were contained in the bus at all times. Corrections and police staff were on hand and there was no risk to public safety.''

Ms Burns said Corrections had robust plans in place for incidents of this kind and its response was ``successfully executed''.

A full investigation will be undertaken into this incident.