Police to relocate out of Christchurch Central station

Canterbury Police are to undertake a planned relocation out of the Christchurch Central Police Station in Hereford Street, over the next two to three months.

The move is being undertaken as a precautionary measure, in response to the increased risk of ongoing significant earthquakes, and potential impact on services within the building.

Assistant Commissioner South, Dave Cliff, say engineer's advice is that the building has come through the swarm of tremors well, and structural integrity and safety have not been compromised.

"We're pleased that the Christchurch Central building remains safe - it is no less safe than it was on 3 September 2010, the day before the first earthquake," says Assistant Commissioner Cliff.

"The construction of the building is such that in the event of a major earthquake, the building will not fail. However, over time it will begin to show stress and in the event of ongoing significant earthquakes, could reach the situation where doors will not open and close and internal services such as electricity and plumbing may not operate.

"As the major Policing facility for the South Island, it is extremely important that services can be provided and hence we need to adopt a conservative and precautionary approach.

"It is for these reasons that we have decided to vacate the building. We have discussed this with Ngäi Tahu property, the building owners. This will be managed over the next few months as we locate other accommodation options within the city."

Assistant Commissioner Cliff says engineers have thoroughly inspected the building multiple times over the past 15 months and again since last Friday.

"The building's structural integrity and safety remains uncompromised, and there is no risk to people in the building. It remains safe to occupy and we are continuing to operate from the entire building.

"The aftershocks of 23 December will mean some reassessment of earthquake risk forecasts, with the risk of further significant quakes potentially higher than previously forecast.

"Because of this ongoing risk of continuing earthquakes we are taking a cautious approach and opting to undertake a planned relocation out of the building over the next two to three months."

Assistant Commissioner Cliff says plans were already under way for Police to move out of the Hereford Street building and into a new station over the next five years.

"This decision accelerates those plans. We have already begun discussions with our emergency services partners at Fire and Ambulance over a possible shared facility in Christchurch and these discussions will continue."