School children told to sit on floor as police search grounds

A school was locked down this afternoon while police dog handlers searched for a man after a police chase.

Rosehill College in the Auckland suburb of Papakura was in lockdown for about 15 minutes after being told by police that a man police were after had been on school grounds.

College principal Graeme Macann said the school sounded a series of bells to indicate that students should stay in their class.

He said police told the school that they had been chasing a car with three men in it. They had arrested two of the men but the third had run off.

"He leapt a fence into a neighbouring property. They wanted students out of the scene so the police dog could work," Mr Macann said.

Inspector Tony Edwards said police tried to stop a car which took off at speed.

He said the chase lasted for about three minutes and got up to speeds of 100km an hour.

He said all three people got out of the car and two were arrested at the scene.

Mr Edwards said police are talking to the two people now.

A mother of one student said children had been told to sit on the floor and stay away from the windows.

She said the police helicopter had been circling the area.