Car driven through Hamilton police station

Car driven through front entrance of Hamilton Police Station

Hamilton Police are currently looking after the welfare of two staff members and coming to terms with damage caused to the front of their building after a car was driven into their station's entrance early this afternoon.

Hamilton City Area Commander, Inspector Rob Lindsay, said the incident came without warning and was inches away from being a tragedy.

"The car crashed through two sets of glass doors shortly before 1pm and came to rest about a metre from the front service counter narrowly missing several members of the public who were waiting inside.

"Initial indications are the male driver is suffering from mental health issues the extent of which we can't comment on at this stage. What I can say is that he was extremely uncooperative and aggressive towards our staff and had to be forcibly extracted from the car.

"During the course of the struggle two of our staff have been injured and the driver has sustained a number of cuts. The male passenger in the car was uninjured."

Mr Lindsay said the injuries to Police officers included a female Constable suffering a cut to her hand requiring several stitches and a male colleague suffering an eye injury, neither injury was serious.

"At this point in time it's important to acknowledge the trauma members of our front counter staff and members of the public were put through in this ordeal and we're attempting to make contact with those we have details of to offer them victim support at this time.

"In terms of service delivery emergency response has not been affected however our front counter is expected to be out of commission for several hours. We're asking non-essential queries be referred to the outlying satellite stations until our front counter services are restored."

The driver of the car is currently under guard while being treated at Waikato Hospital and an assessment on what if any charges will be laid will be made after an assessment by mental health officials.

ENDS