2 Sep 2014

Man arrested after Work & Income threatened

5:53 pm on 2 September 2014

A man has been arrested after the Work and Income office in Blenheim closed its doors in response to a threatening phone call. Armed offenders officers arrested the 38 year-old in Koromiko.

The police said the workers never faced any direct threat and closing the office was a precautionary measure to ensure staff safety until an arrest was made. Armed officers were also put in place to guard the building temporarily.

No charges have yet been laid.

Initial reports suggested the man had threatened in an irate call to turn up to the office with a gun.

Meanwhile, a 38-year-old man was to appear in Hastings District Court today over an incident at the Hastings Work and Income office yesterday.

Police said they were called to the office about 3.20pm after reports of a man armed with a knife threatening an employee. The man was arrested within 10 minutes.

The Blenheim shutdown also follows yesterday's double-murder in Ashburton, when a man entered the town's Work and Income office with a gun. He appeared in court this morning.