Nelson police are unapologetic for arresting a man shortly after his partner gave birth to a baby girl they say is drug-dependent due to the mother’s drug addiction.

The five-day-old baby has been placed into the interim care of Child, Youth and Family after police concerns about the mother’s drug habit and the arrest of the baby’s father Warwick James for breach of bail.

James said he was approached by Detective Sergeant Tony Bernards minutes after the birth of his daughter on Sunday morning and hospital staff were in tears as he was taken to a nearby foyer and told he was to go to the Nelson police station.

“I said I did not think this was a very appropriate time and could he come back later,” he said.

“They could have waited until the next day. I wasn’t going anywhere.”