POLICE were called to assist Dartmoor Prison officers last Friday (July 28) after a security breach saw an inmate escape on to the roof of the Princetown jail.

The prisoner escaped on to the roof around 10am and remained there until around 1.15pm. Prison officers have procedures in place with regards to security breaches, but when prisoners commit a criminal offence they contact the local police force.

The incident last Friday saw the inmate commit public order offences and caused criminal damage to the prison and its property, which resulted in Tavistock CID attending.

Tavistock DS Bev Havis, who attended the incident, praised the prison officers for the way they dealt with the operation.

She added: ‘It was a really effective partnership between the local prison and local CID.’