Neighbours of Te Kauwhata's Spring Hill prison are furious that it was more than four hours before they learned a violent prisoner had escaped.
And they say they only found out after approaching two prison staff sitting in a car next door.
The search for Storm Bryce Hughes, 33, was intensifying yesterday as police followed up reports of possible sightings in South Auckland. Hughes fled while working in a building restoration party outside the prison at 9.15am on Wednesday.
Police have warned the public to steer clear of Hughes who they say has an extensive history of violent offending.
The news of Hughes' escape angered neighbours of the prison, who did not want to be named.
"We're in a difficult position because we've got to get along with the prison because they're our neighbours. We've got to be careful because they are a powerful organisation."
The man said he felt let down by the Corrections Department which had repeatedly assured neighbours during numerous community meetings that there would not be escapes.
"There was a list of phone numbers that (Corrections) had and said they would keep ringing them until they got through ... in our case the line was busy and to the average person that means somebody is at home therefore they should keep trying."
Another resident said she was walking her dogs around her property about 10.30am, completely unaware that Hughes had escaped.
"They could have had somebody come over and let us know at that early stage," she said.
She found out about the escape only after noticing two security guards in a car at a house next door about 1.30pm.
"They said there was a code red. I said `why didn't you ring me?' They said our line was busy. But they didn't bother ringing people in our cottage, she was home alone too, windows and doors open, in the heat and they didn't contact our worker on his mobile."
She was annoyed with Corrections' statement that public safety was its highest priority.
"That's absolute codswallop ... There's been a total failure there. I had no idea what was going on until after 1.30pm."
The Corrections Department refused to comment when approached by the Waikato Times.Corrections Association president Beven Hanlon said no comment was a guilty conscience and the department was simply "covering up".
"They're a public service, they're not supposed to be secret." Contacting neighbours of prisons after an escape was easy and the lack of consultation was a "total failure". "Someone should be held accountable because people are being placed at risk ... it's inexcusable."
Meanwhile, Arai Hema who fled from a work party at Auckland Prison at Paremoremo on January 21 was captured in Hamilton last night.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikatotimes/4846651a6579.html