Man threatens to take baby

A DUNEDIN man called police yesterday and threatened to remove his baby from a neonatal unit, citing concern over vaccinations.

His call resulted in officers converging on Dunedin Hospital, but the man had not been located last night.

A police spokeswoman confirmed the man had called 111 to threaten to remove ‘‘a relative’’ from the hospital.

Officers had not caught up with the man, despite area searches yesterday, but would continue efforts to locate him over the next few days, she said.

The Otago Daily Times spoke via phone to the man as police were searching for him yesterday afternoon.

Social workers had asked a midwife not to allow the man contact with his baby, but he had visited the hospital to see his baby yesterday morning, he said.

He later learned the hospital had given the baby an injection, spurring his call to police in which he threatened to remove the baby.

‘‘I’m very strict about this, I don’t believe in vaccinations or any injections.’’

He faces charges of threatening Oranga Tamariki staff, and has also allegedly threatened Work and Income staff.