Suspicious substance found outside Levin Work and Income office

Emergency services were called to the Levin Work and Income office. Photo / Hagen Hopkins

A substance found outside the Work and Income office in Levin earlier this morning was sugar.

Emergency services were called to the offices on Durham Street, Levin about 8.15am, after an amount of an unknown white crystal type substance was discovered spread across the ground near the front doors to the building.

The building was evacuated and cordoned off by police and the Fire Service.

Police said now it had been discovered the substance was sugar, the building would be re-opened.

"It appears that someone has deliberately spread the sugar around in order to cause a response from emergency services," said Senior Sergeant Sarn Paroli.

"It's very frustrating that a considerable amount of time and money has been spent by emergency services in dealing with this incident as well as the disruption caused to WINZ staff and clients and other members of the community."

Police asked anyone with information that would help identify the person responsible to contact them.