Lower Hutt police are asking the public to keep away from the East St area in Petone as officers respond to an incident.

Armed police will be in attendance, as a precaution, they said.

The area is cordoned off, with road closures in place from East St to Waione St.

Diversion for traffic will be down Kirkcaldy St on to Marine Parade.

A person in a nearby business said the police were concentrated around an East St property and the house behind it on Waione St.

He told the Herald there were “a lot” of officers and around 12 police vehicles in the area.

Officers were in both standard uniform and tactical gear.

Police arrived around 7.40am, he said.