Police catch Perth escapee

A detainee who escaped the custody of Serco guards in central Perth has been caught.

The man was found by police in Northbridge after being on the run for about two hours on Wednesday afternoon, a police spokeswoman told AAP.

The detainee was in Serco custody being transported through Perth's city centre when he escaped and ran west along Murray Street.

Police cordoned off the area and a search was initiated.

Wednesday's incident was the latest in a string of embarrassing escapes for the UK government services and security company.

A convicted rapist and another prisoner managed to abscond from Serco custody earlier in January by kicking out the door of a prison van at Geraldton airport.

Last Friday a third man escaped from a Joondalup hospital while under the guard of Serco officers.