Police response to Canterbury earthquake

Police in Christchurch continue to provide assistance so restricted access zones can be lifted as soon as possible. The zones will be removed once buildings have been checked by engineers and Urban Search and Rescue.

Canterbury District Commander Superintendent Dave Cliff says this is purely a public safety issue as there is still debris falling from some buildings and police do not want anyone to get hurt.

Mr Cliff says very few people tried to gain entry to the CBD overnight Sunday which was pleasing.

Business owners will be allowed through the cordon during the day on Monday to check their premises.

Anyone with a legitimate reason to gain access to the CBD can do so via checkpoints on the corner of St Asaph and Colombo Streets or the corner of Colombo and Armagh Streets. No other checkpoints will be allowing access and Mr Cliff asked the public not to put extra pressure on staff at other checkpoints.

The cordons are expected to remain in place until it is deemed safe to enter the CBD. Police has also restricted access to Kaiapoi CBDs, Kairaki Beach and Pine Beach because of safety issues.

Mr Cliff said the process of assessing buildings will take some time and some frustration may be felt as buildings are either added or removed. He asked for the public to be patient while this work was carried out.

Police patrols will also be out in suburban areas around the city and the public is urged to be particularly vigilant while driving around the eastern suburbs because sinkholes have opened up on some roads.

Mr Cliff also urged sightseers to stay away from the damaged area. Police have been supported by eighty staff from the Auckland districts over the weekend. They are due to return today but a further twenty staff from Wellington district will fly in and are due to arrive in Christchurch at 5pm today, Monday.

Police National Headquarters is liaising closely with Canterbury District to ensure it has all the additional resources it may require. A contingent of Defence force personnel from Burnham military camp will also be backing up police resources from today, and will assist police on the cordoned around the CBD.

Mr Cliff said the defence force, particular the Army, had already been very supportive to agencies involved in the Civil Defence operation by providing meals, accommodation and transport.

Mr Cliff stressed that while Police resources are deployed in the damaged areas, it was still "business as usual" for police responding to crime and anyone requiring urgent assistance should dial 111.

All police stations in Canterbury district were functioning normally despite some suffering minor internal damage from falling objects.

Contacts and information:
For urgent assistance from Police, Fire or Ambulance call 111.
www.civildefence.govt.nz
Earthquake Government Helpline (24 hours): 0800 779 997
Healthline (24 hours): 0800 611 116
Earthquake Commission (EQC): 0800 DAMAGE 326 243
Schools: www.minedu.govt.nz
For current updates visit the Environment Canterbury website (http://ecan.govt.nz)