Man arrested over WINZ incident

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strong>UPDATE 1.15PM: Police have arrested a man following an incident at the Ministry of Social Development's Durham Street office in Tauranga this morning.

The branch was place into lockdown this morning after the man made a verbal threat to Work and Income staff shortly before 10.30am.


The Ministry of Social Development's Durham Street office in Tauranga was locked down after verbal threats were made against staff this morning. Photo: Bruce Barnard.

'The offender has been charged with threatening language and remanded in custody to appear in court today or tomorrow,” says police in a statement.

After the threats, the office was locked down with staff and clients moved upstairs as a safety precaution.

SunLive understands the lock down has now ended but access is restricted.

UPDATED 11.30AM:

Police confirm they are responding to an incident which has seen the Ministry of Social Development Durham Street office in Tauranga locked-down this morning.

A Police spokesperson says the incident involved a person making a verbal threat to staff working in the office shortly before 10.30am.

'We take all incidents such as this very seriously and are responding appropriately,” the spokesperson says.

At this stage there are no details of the person who made the threat or what was said to staff.

Earlier this week ACC's Grey Street branch was put in lockdown after a man called up the office and threatened to kill staff members on Tuesday afternoon.

Several hours later, police arrested and charged a man in relation to the incident.

EARLIER 11.05AM:

The Ministry of Social Development confirms threats were made to staff at its Durham Street office in Tauranga this morning.

An MSD spokesperson says the office was closed down as a precaution following a threat made to staff shortly before 10.30am, and will remain closed until the safety of staff can be ensured.

SunLive will update this story once more information comes to hand.

EARLIER:

Reports are coming in of Work and Income New Zealand's Durham Street office being in lockdown this morning.

A caller to the 0800 SUNLIVE news hotline says everyone inside the office has been moved upstairs and people were being prevented from entering the building.

'I showed up for an appointment but the security guards said they were in lockdown,” the caller says.

At this stage it is unknown if the lockdown was due to threats being made against staff.

'We take all incidents such as this very seriously and are responding appropriately,” the spokesperson says.

Earlier this week ACC's Grey Street branch was put in lockdown after a man called up the office and threatened to kill staff members on Tuesday afternoon. Several hours later, police arrested and charged a man in relation to the incident.

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3 comments

History repeats

Posted on 29-07-2016 11:14 | By Crash test dummies

Likely some happy customer that has received full and complete TLC at WINZ again and is way to happy to get back there for more.


Hmmmm

Posted on 29-07-2016 14:36 | By How about this view!

I wonder if the words "MY PAY" were used? About time to rein-in the benefits culture that is being expanded upon and suggesting a little more forcefully that it is a "hand up' NOT a "hand out".


law to suit some

Posted on 30-07-2016 06:40 | By rosscoo

Not condoning verbal threatening behavior, but if this person only verbally abused a person on street police would not be interested, but all of a sudden there is a charge for verbal abuse to Winz staff. Some bus drivers get verbal abuse all time from passengers but unless they are physically attacked police won't do anything.


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