Police abandon two quake-hit stations

5:52 am on 30 December 2011

Police in Christchurch say they are abandoning their central city station due to the ongoing risk of significant earthquakes.

The 40-year-old building had withstood the earthquakes but last Friday's shakes and the prospect of further quakes mean its plumbing and interior are at risk of breaking down completely.

Friday's quakes sent ceiling tiles crashing from the roof of the building and led to police only operating out of the building's first four floors of the 13 storey structure.

The announcement came on the same day as the police announced they would not be repairing the Lyttelton police station, which was badly damaged in February's earthquake, due to the cost of rebuilding it.

Engineers now say while the central city building isn't at risk of collapsing, another significant shake could lead to large parts of it having to be shut down.

Assistant Commissioner for the South Island Dave Cliff says this isn't an option for an essential emergency service and a new home will now be found for the 500 staff who work there.

He says the central city station, on Hereford Street, will be relocated over the next two to three months.