Youthful facelift for police building

A bland Hastings building has been given a new lease on life with the addition of eight murals featuring individual, "youth safety" messages.

The former Hastings Court House on Railway Rd and Eastbourne St West is now being used by police staff to deal with youth aid, youth education and youth enforcement.

Police contacted local schools to gauge their interest in designing some artwork for the building, and received positive results.

"It's about promoting road safety and keeping our kids safe, eight schools have been selected to have their murals up there," Eastern Rd Policing Manager Inspector Chris Wallace said.

"It really brightens up the corner along with the paintings by Sallie Dunford.

"We have started using this area as a youth learning facility so it's great to have these [young people] involved."

Woodford House, Havelock North Intermediate, Twyford Primary, Irongate Primary, Lindisfarne College, Peterhead Primary, Karamu High and Hastings Girls High were all part of the project.

"We don't expect them to be tagged because we have got a lot of art around the city and they are all coated with anti-graffiti paint and have had virtually nil damage," Mr Wallace said.