Second fire at police station

Press, 17 October 1986, Page 3

Second fire at police station

PA Auckland A fire set in the new Otara Police Station, the second deliberate blaze in four weeks, gutted almost half the ’building early yesterday, the police said. The south Auckland squad were to move into their new base quarters next week. Contractors on site have promised an all-out effort to see that the job is still completed on time. The first attempt to burn the building was stifled when a security guard found a bucket containing petrol and a small fire that had burnt out. Security at the Bairds Road base will be strengthened to prevent further arson attacks. Sergeant Richard Harries, .in charge at Otara, said the police had made many arrests recently as part of a crime crackdown in the area but he did not think that had prompted the attack. The police believe the arson was the work of hard-core criminals who fear the extra attention they will receive when the base opens, boosting Otara staff from the present six to about 40. Ministry of Works architects and representa-

fives of Thrupp Building contractors were yesterday determining how much of the base extension would have to be pulled down and rebuilt, and the cost. Painters had finished work in the watchhouse at the front of the building on Wednesday and the police were to move in on Monday. The whole extension was to be completed by Christmas. Destroyed yesterday were interview rooms and holding cells — the most expensive part of the extension as all materials in that part were specially reinforced. The area containing police lockers, showers, the vital computer terminal and prosecution files were undamaged. The arsonist had to scale a barbed-wire security fence and beat spot security checks but the • police said he probably spent some time setting the fire as it took hold very quickly. Builders who feared their work would be the target for vandals and thieves asked for round-the-clock protection when tendering for the $600,000 job earlier this year but that was considered too expensive.