Hamilton police say an incident where a car deliberately crashed through their front entrance this afternoon, came without warning and was inches away from being a tragedy.

The vehicle came to rest about a metre from the front service counter at the Hamilton Central Police Station on Bridge St around 1pm.

Area commander Inspector Rob Lindsay says it narrowly missed the eight to ten members of the public who were waiting inside. He says it was good timing that none of them were in the doorway at the time.

Mr Lindsay says two officers sustained injuries during a struggle with the driver, who is believed to suffer from a mental illness.