UPDATE 1:15PM: Police confirmed a man entered the Bendigo Centrelink office armed with a steering wheel lock demanding a welfare payment.
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Sergeant Rod Davis said the Centrelink staff put the building into lockdown before the man disarmed himself and surrendered to police.
No Centrelink staff, members of the public, or the man himself were injured during the incident.
The man will be taken into custody, interviewed and charged, Sergeant Davis said.
UPDATE 12:50pm: A man has been arrested and taken from the Bendigo Centrelink office.
UPDATE 12.45pm: Police have entered Bendigo’s Centrelink office amid a lockdown that is diverting foot traffic from the area.
Centrelink staff could be seen blocking the footpath at lunchtime, asking pedestrians to move away from the area.
EARLIER: A central Bendigo office building is in lockdown this afternoon.
Police are clearing pedestrians from around the area the Centrelink office on the corner of Lyttleton Terrace and St Andrews Avenue.
Staff and clients are not being permitted to enter the building.
More to come.